373. Memorandum of a Conversation, Ambassador’s Residence, Paris, December 18, 1957, 10:30 a.m.1
PARTICIPANTS
- United States
- The President
- Mr. Rockwell
- Turkey
- Mr. Adnan Menderes, Prime Minister of Turkey
- Mr. Fatin Zorlu, Foreign Minister of Turkey
- Mr. Melih Esenbel, Secretary General of the Turkish Foreign Office
SUBJECT
- Egypt
Prime Minister Menderes said that we must not accept a fait accompli in Syria. The President thought that there might be some possibility of hopeful developments there. He knew how staunchly Turkey had opposed the Communist penetration of Syria. Mr. Menderes said that Turkey was gratified by the way the United States had stood by Turkey. The USSR had not failed to notice this.
Mr. Menderes commented that Nuri Said had just been in Turkey and had said that his recent talks with the President and the Secretary in Washington2 about Syria had been most satisfactory.
Mr. Menderes said that Turkey had no illusion about NATO’s abilities to be helpful in the Middle East. NATO was divided, but US policy must continue strong in the Middle East.
The President asked what Mr. Menderes thought of the military situation in Syria. The Prime Minister said that the Russians have sent Syria more arms than Syria can use. The Soviets have not made Syria into a Communist satellite yet, because they are afraid of public reaction in the Arab world. They have put their hand on Syria, however, and can come in at any time.