Foreign Relations of the United States, 1950, The Near East, South Asia, and Africa, Volume V

681.82/9–2850: Telegram

The Ambassador in Greece (Peurifoy) to the Secretary of State

secret

Athens, September 28, 1950—9 a. m.

1073. Venizelos told me yesterday that he had instructed his Ambassador at Ankara to inform Turkish Government that Greeks would welcome early staff talks which they hoped would lead to much closer military cooperation between Turkey and Greece.

Later in day, Tsaldaris called to ask if I would request Department to instruct Ambassador Wadsworth¹ to inform Turks that US would welcome immediate tightening of economic, political and military ties between Greece and Turkey. I assured both Venizelos and Tsaldaris that matter would be given due consideration.

Department will recall proposal close Greek-Turkish cooperation particularly in military field has been indicated several times previously by Greeks especially Tsaldaris, with no useful result since Turks have apparently insisted on American endorsement and indeed participation, in any Greek-Turkish staff talks. Further in view Depcirtel September 22,² Department may not consider time propitious for Ambassador Wadsworth to use his and Department’s influence in bringing Turkish and Greek armed forces into closer accord. However, in view over-all importance of strengthening relations between Greece and Turkey, an improvement in economic cooperation seems particularly desirable, I am submitting Greek request for whatever action if any, Department deems appropriate.

Sent Department 1972 [1073], repeated info Ankara 20.

Peurifoy

1. George Wadsworth, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Turkey.
2. This telegram repeated telegram Tosec 35, September 22, to the U.S. Mission at the United Nations, not printed, which read in part as follows: “It was agreed [at the Tripartite Meeting, Foreign Ministers of France, United Kingdom, and United States, New York, September 1950] to direct Defense Committee [of the North Atlantic Council] to take steps to enable Turkey, should she so desire, to become associated with such phases of NAT planning for defense of Mediterranean as Defense Committee deems appropriate. Should this proposal be acceptable to Turkey, then and only then would same proposal be made to Greece.” (396.1NE/9–2150) (For documentation on the Tripartite Meeting, Foreign Ministers of France, United Kingdom, and United States, New York, September 1950, see vol. iii, pp. 1108 ff.; for documentation on the association of Greece and Turkey with North Atlantic Treaty Organization planning on the defense of the Mediterranean, see ibid., pp. 1 ff.)