S/S–NSC Files: Lot 63D351: NSC 421
Memorandum by the Under Secretary of State (Webb) to the Executive Secretary of the National Security Council (Lay)
Subject: First Progress Report on NSC 42/1,3 “United States Objectives with Respect to Greece and Turkey to Counter Soviet Threats to United States Security”, approved as Governmental Policy on March 23, 1949.
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B. Turkey
i. policy implementation
Pursuant to the conclusions set forth in NSC Document 42/1, United States military aid to Turkey has been continued during fiscal 1950 under statutes appropriating $265 million for Greece and Turkey. Final determination of the portion of this amount that will be allocated to the Turkish program awaits agreement on justifications between the State and Defense Departments, but it is anticipated that it will be approximately $81 million. Total funds appropriated and allocated for military assistance to Turkey under the Aid Program will thus be brought to $236 million. It is tentatively contemplated that the Turkish requirement for fiscal 1951 will be in the order of $45 million.
United States military aid in the form of matériel and training is playing a primary and effective role in the program to modernize the Turkish Armed Forces with the result that a greater combat effectiveness is being achieved with less expenditure of men. This has made possible a reduction in the size of the Turkish Armed Forces from an estimated 500,000 men at the time the Aid Program was initiated to somewhat less than 300,000 men at present, an important factor from the viewpoint of the civilian economy. The maintenance of the Turkish defense establishment, however, continues to impose a very heavy burden on the Turkish economy, necessitating the expenditure of 35 to 40% of the country’s budgetary revenues.
[Page 1237]The Turks have periodically urged that they be included either in the Atlantic Pact or some similar regional arrangement. This Government has taken the position that it cannot consider such an extension of its contractual security arrangements at this time. The Turks have also suggested that, while awaiting a decision on a political commitment by the United States, the General Staffs of the two countries undertake discussions of a common plan of defense and assistance. Views of the Secretary of Defense are being sought, but it is anticipated that the suggestion will be rejected on the grounds that such planning could only be undertaken if there were a prior political agreement.
An increase in the very low standard of living in Turkey is one of the necessary elements in strengthening Turkish efforts to oppose Communist pressure. ECA assistance has enabled Turkey to undertake a program of economic development which, because of the national defense burden, would not have otherwise been possible. Direct ECA assistance in fiscal 1950 will total $59 million, in addition to which Turkey is expected to receive $55 million in drawing rights on other ERP countries. It is anticipated that in fiscal 1951, Turkey will receive $46 million in direct ECA aid and $30 million in drawing rights. These funds are being utilized to purchase modern agricultural equipment which will make possible an increase in Turkey’s agricultural production, to modernize and enlarge the coal mines, to develop the very inadequate internal transportation system, to develop power resources—all important elements in the country’s basic economy. While these projects are designed to contribute to European recovery, they will likewise serve to increase the national income of Turkey with resultant improvement in the standard of living and in its ability to support its defense burden.
ii. policy evaluation
There have been no developments which would appear to warrant a change in United States objectives with respect to Turkey as set forth in NSC Document 42/1. The determination of Turkey to resist Soviet pressure remains unshaken and its confidence in its ability to do so has been greatly fortified by the military aid extended by the United States, as well as by periodic public reiteration of the interest of the United States in its security and integrity. United States aid has contributed to strengthening the political stability of the country with the result that continued progress is being made in the program of democratization. These factors undoubtedly account in part for the absence of overt or violent Soviet pressure on Turkey during the past year, although Soviet radio and press propaganda, [Page 1238] acting to undermine the Turkish Government, as well as Turkish-American relations has continued. The economic burden on Turkey of carrying out the necessary modernization of its military forces is still greater than that country can bear without direct United States military aid in addition to the economic aid extended through ECA. In view, therefore, of the long range interest of this country in Turkey, United States aid to that country must be continued.
- Lot 63D351 is a serial master file of the National Security Council documents and correspondence and related Department of State memoranda for the years 1947–1961, as maintained by the Executive Secretariat of the Department of State.↩
- For the omitted portion of this report, see p. 342.↩
- For the text of NSC 42/1, of March 22, 1949, see Foreign Relations, 1949, vol. vi, p. 269.↩