740.5/10–1251: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Embassy in Greece 1
1779. Fol FYI only. At Ottawa Brit reversing previous position opposed coverage Cyprus by Art 6 of NAT. US Del understood reasons to be: Any hostile act against Cyprus cld be done only after having violated mil elements or terrs to be covered by NATO, and in any such case fat wld be in fire; area Cyprus not indigenous to Eur or Atlantic area but part Middle East; and Brit reluctance have fon (read Grk) troops on Cyprus. CD adopted Brit position. Resulting protocol providing for modification Art 6 of Treaty excludes Cyprus without expressly so stating. Key wording in protocol “or the Med Sea” designed to mean over and in those waters but not encompassing an area (Cyprus). Grk and Turk islands covered as integral part metropolitan Greece and Turk.
Later UK sought delete “or the Med Sea” as restricting meaning of “North Atlantic Area” in other parts NAT unqualified by this phrase, [Page 594] and perhaps to make it clear Cyprus not covered by NAT. They also proposed interpretation minute to make explicit Cyprus excluded. Re this Dept informed Spofford fol:
“UK preoccupation with Cyprus at this point not appreciated. As explained earlier, Dept perfectly clear that (a) Cyprus is not included by text of Art 6 in Apr 4 version, and (b) Cyprus is not included by proposed text Art 6, agreed at Ottawa.
“Under these circumstances, UK interpretative minute on Cyprus (para 3, second section Depto 430) is unneces and undesirable from standpoint possible reactions in Greece and Turk. Publication such minute wld exacerbate Anglo-Greek differences re Cyprus and wld give rise unneces speculation in Turk of significant exclusion island geographically so close to Turk and also so strategically located with respect to ME.” Neither Brit proposal accepted and phrase extant.
Though not immed obvious, Dept realizes when omission becomes clear will undoubtedly highlight Cyprus situation and arouse Grk suspicion. Latter will probably be particularly true upon full Grk participation and access documentation NATO. Cypriot communists may use omission allege Western disinterest security Cyprus and nationalists to allege security coverage Cyprus can only be had through Enosis which wld automatically give coverage Cyprus. Grk Emb here has already made inquiries re Cyprus and NATO but believe they unaware this particular situation. When protocol revealed to Grks Dept proposes explain emission along lines para 1 above and endeavor convince Grks this perfectly logical action. If neces will also state it has no bearing Grk position vis-à-vis Cyprus.
Dept wld appreciate Athens Nicosia views this matter.
- Message sent concurrently to the Consulate at Nicosia as 61. Drafted by B. F. Dixon of GTI and cleared with It A, the Assistant Legal Adviser for Economic Affairs, and the Executive Secretariat.↩