55. Telegram From the Embassy in Turkey to the Department of State1
1609. Deptel 1296.2 Have just returned from presenting President’s letter to Inonu who read carefully, said disagreed with certain points which he would explain later but that he agreed with final sentence to effect that GOT would delay any action on understanding there would be full and frank discussion with view reaching peaceful solution of Cyprus problem. Added would present this for Cabinet approval tonight but seemed regard their acceptance as taken for granted.
Said considered it important let public know that intervention postponed at our request and that American Government would assume active role in effort settle problem between allies, and asked my approval. I said unable give carte blanche but would be glad submit to Washington such text as GOT might propose.3
Further details in separate tel but gist is GOT agrees forego intervention on condition we take active interest in seeking solution.4
General Lemnitzer was seeing PriMin immediately after I left.5
- Source: Department of State, Central Files, POL 23–8 CYP. Secret; Flash. Repeated to London, Paris for USRO, Athens, and Nicosia and to the White House, OSD, CIA, and JCS.↩
- Document 54.↩
- The White House released a statement before the Turkish Government could provide suggested language. The text of the U.S. statement was transmitted in telegram 1460 to Athens, June 5. (Department of State, Central Files, POL 23–8 CYP) In telegram 1617 from Ankara, June 6, Hare reported that Erkin had unsuccessfully sought a joint follow-up statement. (Ibid.)↩
- Telegram 1616 from Ankara, June 6. (Ibid.)↩
- Lemnitzer reported on his meeting with Inonu in an unnumbered telegram to the Department of Defense, June 5. (Ibid.)↩