647C.81/5–451: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Embassy in Greece 1
4224. Re Embtel 3759.2 You may report to Venizelos that, as you anticipated, in view Dept’s conviction Enosis question shld not be raised at this time Dept considers it inappropriate to approach UK to make gen statement indicating willingness discuss Enosis at some future time. Moreover, Dept not prepared discount sincerity Turkish apprehensions re change in status Cyprus.
In further elucidation Dept’s gen attitude concerning Enosis, you might in your discretion, point out that in face current world anxieties a serious question arises whether US press and public likely look with sympathy at appearance new internatl issue which wld add present tensions and cause dissension among allies. Enosis question not one which widely understood or capable arousing deep emotion among great majority US population with exception Grk-Amer community. Consequently, unwillingness defer this issue in face common danger now confronting free world might create highly unfavorable impression in minds US Cong and public. For this reason and since Dept cannot provide any encouragement Grk Govt this time, Dept considers Grks wld be prudent exercise every precaution prevent Grk public from becoming unduly excited by this issue, thereby providing acute embarrassment Grk Govt. You might reiterate Dept’s strong objection raising issue this time in no way alters Dept’s opinion there [Page 534] is no reason believe solution mutually satis all parties cannot ultimately be achieved.
FYI question Cyprus has been proposed for agenda Colonial talks which US–UK hope hold in near future. Dept has been informed Brit may be prepared during these talks consider renewal offer of self-govt and possibility dual nationality. However, there is no present indication Brit prepared go beyond point discussion. Brit reluctance express willingness discuss Enosis at some indefinite future date derives from belief such declaration wld in fact encourage proponents of Enosis redouble their efforts rather than tranquilize sitn. Likewise Brit believe impossible realistically determine now some specific future date by which internatl sitn wld permit discussion this topic.
View US interest in maintenance status quo in Cyprus and many current areas friction between US and UK, Dept not prepared press Brit on this issue at this time. For this reason Dept considers it dangerous give any encouragement whatever to Grk Govt re quick solution pending indication Brit willingness make concession this matter.
Peurifoy concurs.3
- Drafted by Anschuetz; cleared by BNA, UNP, UND, S/S; approved for transmission by McGhee. Repeated to London and Nicosia.↩
- Supra.↩
- Peurifoy was in the United States for consultations at the Department of State. Yost informed the Secretary of State in telegram 3897 from Athens, May 14, that the views conveyed in the source text had been passed on to Venizelos who expressed disappointment but “assures us Govt will continue do what it can dampen agitation for Enosis.” Venizelos added that he would discourage further visits of the Cypriot delegation to Athens but continued to maintain that opposition parties would make much of the issue during the forthcoming electoral campaign. Yost added that Venizelos had told the British that he could not accept their rejection of the recent call for Greek-Cypriot union as final. (647C.81/5–1451) In telegram 6394 from London, June 6, Ambassador Gifford informed the Secretary of State that the British Foreign office had asked him to express to the Department and to Yost its great appreciation “for ‘words of wisdom’ given by Yost to Greeks re Cyprus in recent weeks, particularly for his efforts to disabuse Venizelos of idea UK shld make statement at this time re plebiscite.” (647C.81/6–651)↩