780.5/9–851: Telegram
The Acting Secretary of State to the Embassy in Turkey 1
183. Verbatim text. Fol is text dated Sept 8 “Proposed Timetable for Approach to Turkey and Egypt.”2
“1. Tripartite Agreement in Washington.3
2. Agreement at Ottawa4 to recommend invitation of Turkey and Greece subject to constitutional procedures in NATO countries.
3. Greece and Turkey to be advised of decision at Ottawa by Chairman of Atlantic Council.
4. Immediately after (3) full information to the Turkish Government on proposed Middle East Command by US–UK and French (?) Ambassadors with the immediate object of securing Turkish agreement to an approach to the King of Egypt. The Ambassadors might convey to the Turkish President high level messages from the President5 and the Prime Minister. If Turkish reaction to initial approach is favorable, agreement should be sought for immediate arrival of a special US–UK (and French?) military or politico-military mission to continue discussions.
5. Simultaneously with (4) the Australian, New Zealand, and South African Governments to be informed by the UK of the command proposals and the proposed approach to the King of Egypt.
6. As soon as Turkish concurrence is obtained a confidential approach to the King of Egypt by the UK, and subsequently the US, Ambassadors, in order to determine the best form and manner of discussions with the Egyptian leaders on the new approach. Approach to the Egyptian Government in light of the King’s advice with assistance possibly being sought from the Turks and French.
[Page 183]7. Subject to (4), military or politico-military mission will go to Turkey and subject to reaction of Egypt at the time of the completion of its work in Turkey, the mission will then proceed to Egypt.
8. As soon as possible after the approach to Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Saudi Arabia and Israel to be informed of the general terms of the plans under consideration.
9. Shortly prior to the public announcement other interested states to be informed of the forthcoming establishment of a Middle East Command.
10. As soon as consultations with Turkey and Egypt have reached the stage where public announcement would not be prejudicial, a public statement regarding the command structure, including the nationality of SACME, should be made.
11. Discussions in Washington on the details of the Middle East Command between the Standing Group and Turkey, Egypt, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa leading to final agreement on the Command Structure.”6
- Drafted and signed for the Acting Secretary by Stabler. Repeated to Cairo as 340, London as 1411, and Paris as 1470.↩
- See footnote 2, supra.↩
- Reference is to the Meetings of the Foreign Ministers of the United States, United Kingdom, and France, at Washington, September 10–14; for documentation, see vol. iii, pt. 1, pp. 1163 ff.↩
- Reference is to the Seventh Session of the North Atlantic Council, Ottawa, September 15–20; for documentation, see ibid., pp. 616 ff.↩
- See editorial note, p. 187.↩
- Telegram 184 to Ankara, repeated to Cairo as 341, London as 1412, and Paris as 1471, reported the text of the timetable as handed to the French, which included the following variations: Paragraph 4 of the timetable given to the French read: “Full Info to Turk Govt on ME Command through Dipl channels with the immed object of securing Turk agreement to an approach to the King of Egypt”. Paragraph 6 read: “As soon as Turk concurrence is obtained a confidential approach to the King of Egypt in order to determine the best form and manner of discussions with the Egypt leaders on the new approach. Approach to the Egypt Govt in light of the King’s advice”. Paragraph 7 of source text deleted from timetable handed to French. Paragraph 8 of source text modified in timetable handed to French to read “At an appropriate time” an approach would be made to Iraq, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia (780.5/9–851).↩