292. Telegram From the Embassy in Greece to the Department of State 0

1250. 1. In interview today with Prime Minister at his request, Karamanlis made impassioned plea for US intervention now to solve Cyprus dispute. Recalling that Soviet bloc would probably support self-determination in UNGA, he expressed anxiety this strategy would eventually force GOG to alter its present policy of advocating UK and NATO bases in Cyprus unless steps were taken to reach final solution. He predicted if progress were not soon made he could not hold the line here and would be forced into more intransigeant position by opposition in Parliament. He repeated well-known argument GOG had made important concessions in guaranteed independence proposal and argued this would eventually bring peace in Cyprus and help UK in dealing with Turks. He thought Greek proposal was consistent with overall US policy and appealed once more for our support.

2. In reply I took same line as Secretary with Liatis (Deptel 1504)1 and attempted to persuade Prime Minister that as no solution was likely in UN we hoped action in Assembly would be conducive to solution and would be so framed as to make possible renewed negotiations. This provoked outburst from Prime Minister in which he made it clear vague resolution for renewed negotiations would not be sufficient. Unless there could be established some basis for conference such as guaranteed independence Greece would not participate. I responded by pointing out how close we had come in Paris to conference in which final solution could be discussed and how far NATO members had gone to meeting GOG requests. [8–1/2 lines of source text not declassified]

Riddleberger
  1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 747C.00/11–2058. Secret. Repeated to Ankara, London, Paris for USRO, Nicosia, and USUN.
  2. Dated November 17. (Ibid., 320.11/11–1758) Dulles’ comments were similar to those he expressed to Zorlu on November 18; see Document 291.