Foreign Relations of the United States, 1955–1957, Soviet Union, Eastern Mediterranean, Volume XXIV

148. Memorandum of a Conversation Between the British Ambassador (Makins) and Secretary of State Dulles, Department of State, Washington, November 30, 1955¹

Washington, November 30, 1955

SUBJECT

• Cyprus

Sir Roger called at his own request on the Secretary this morning. He handed the Secretary the attached copy of the Greek Prime Minister’s letter to Sir Anthony Eden in connection with the latest British proposal on Cyprus,² together with a copy of the reply which Sir Anthony was dispatching to the Greek.³ Sir Roger said that London was extremely grateful for the effective and active support which had been given to the British initiative in this matter both by our Ambassador in Athens and our Consul on Cyprus. He asked that they be instructed to continue their support since Sir Anthony believed that it should be possible by keeping the pressure on (which his reply was designed to do) and with some help from us the Greek Government might change its position. He described the government as well-intentioned but weak.

The Secretary replied that he would consider this request but that he could not give an immediate reply. He mentioned the impending Greek elections as one element which must be taken into account in deciding whether or not in our view additional pressure on the Greek Government would be productive.⁴

1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 747C.00/11–3055. Secret. Drafted by Merchant.
2. The letter from Karamanlis to Eden, November 28, noted that although the British formula acknowledged the right of self-determination, Karamanlis could not recommend it to Makarios because it had “no chance” of being accepted by the people of Cyprus. The full text of the letter is attached to a note from Robert G. Barnes to Allen, November 30. (Ibid.)
3. Eden’s reply to Karamanlis, dated November 28, was found attached to the note from Barnes to Allen cited in footnote 2 above. Eden wrote “We find ourselves unable to understand your reference to ‘impediments on the road to self-government.’ There are none. It has been made plain that we are ready at any time to institute a wide measure of self-government and to discuss the working of it with representatives of the people of Cyprus.” (Ibid.)
4. In telegram 1962 from Rome, December 1, Ambassador Luce informed the Department that during an informal dinner for King Paul, the King had remarked that he had done his best to persuade Karamanlis to accept the British proposal. According to Luce, he indicated that although Karamanlis found the formula to be a “reasonable” basis for discussion, the Greek Prime Minister concluded that he could not commit himself before the elections because the opposition would make “great political capital” out of the “‘national unity’” theme. (Ibid., 747C.00/12–155)