Office of the Historian

335. Telegram From the Mission to the United Nations to the Department of State1

New York, November 30, 1967, 2144Z.

2672. From Goldberg for Vance. Rossides, Cyprus Rep at UN has advised SYG that Kyprianou letter to you constitutes rejection by Government of Cyprus of the agreement. I have been at Rossides myself for two hours telling him that he is absolutely wrong and insisting that he go [Page 686] back immediately to his government for positive instructions to advise SYG that Kyprianou acknowledgment language means GOC supports agreement as Kyprianou stated to you before you left Palace in Nicosia. I have also insisted that SYG not accept this statement as final.

I shall advise you again upon hearing from Rossides having impressed upon him necessity for affirmative response forthwith.

Rossides action here is in character. In handling of Cyprus problem at UN he has consistently been more hawkish than Makarios or Kyprianou. It will be highly important to get to Makarios and Kyprianou so that Rossides can be instructed to consent to SYG issuing his appeal tonight.

If it will help with Makarios you can advise that both Turks and Greeks are willing to revise para 4 to meet Makarios view, as well as our own, that new and enlarged mandate is not required. Governments of Turkey and Greece are willing to agree to following revision of para 4:

“In response to the appeal of the SYG, UNFICYP, under its existing mandate, would be available to undertake an enhanced and broader pacification role, which would include supervision of disarmament of all forces constituted after 1963 and new practical arrangements for the safeguarding of internal security including the safety of all citizens.”2

Goldberg
  1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, POL 27 CYP. Secret; Flash; Exdis. Received at 2240Z. Also sent to Athens and repeated to Nicosia, Ankara, London, Ottawa, the Mission to NATO, and USCINCEUR.↩
  2. In telegram 77716 to Nicosia, December 1, the Department of State instructed the Embassy to convey its strong request that Makarios correct the mistaken impression created by Rossides, warning that his actions might be placing his nation in danger of attack. (Ibid.)↩