Office of the Historian

740.5/2–1352: Telegram

The Acting Secretary of State to the Embassy in Turkey 1
top secret
Washington, February 13, 1952—7:04 p.m.

710. FYI Dept understands Mil Comite has subject to Ital reservation discussed below approved for NAC action following Command arrangements:2

1.
Ground forces of Grk and Turk operate under over-all command of SACEUR through CINCSOUTH.
2.
Grk and Turk Air Forces report to Air Commander Southern Eur Command.
3.
Naval forces of Grk and Turk remain under own national Chiefs of Staff.
4.
Details of Southern Command will be worked out by SACEUR and national authorities and submitted to Standing Group.
5.
Under this arrangement only organizational change to NATO command structure is addition of Turk and Grk land and air force command under Commander in Chief South.
6.
System of command and naval forces in Medit and coordination with Army and Air Force reserved pending further consideration with object of submitting an agreed report to the Council at its next mtg. Progress on org of ME Command will be reported to Council at next mtg.

Itals have reserved on point they cannot agree to arrangement which makes final the placing of Turk and Grk land forces directly under CINC Allied Forces Southern Eur. We believe all member nations can be expected apply maximum pressure upon Itals to withdraw their reservation.

Dept understands Grk and Turk observers aware Mil Comite discussions and informing their govts thereof. Because we believe desirable Grks Turks estab direct channels with appropriate NATO bodies soonest [Page 270] feasible, we think US shld not initiate bilateral discussions this matter Grks or Turks.

Webb
  1. This telegram, which was also sent to Athens as 3838, was drafted by Moore (GTI), approved by Dorsz for transmission, and signed for the Acting Secretary by Parsons (RA).↩
  2. Summarized here is the contents of document MC 38/2, entitled “Command Arrangements Regarding Greece and Turkey.” The summarized paper was approved by the NATO Defense Ministers at their meeting on Feb. 21 (see telegram LibDef 11, Feb. 21, p. 119) and by the North Atlantic Council at its meeting on Feb. 22 (see telegram Secto 49, Feb. 22, p. 136).↩