668.82/6–652: Telegram
No. 310
The Secretary of
State to the Embassy in
Yugoslavia1
1249. Dept fully endorses Belgrade’s belief US shld be careful avoid giving impression US hesitant in principle about Yugo-Grk-Turk rapprochement including bilateral or trilateral mil talks (Belgrade tel 1537 June 6 to Dept2). Quite the opposite is, of course, the case. View comments Turk Amb Belgrade, Dept believes erroneous impression may have been recd by Turks from remarks made to Koprulu by Amb consequent Deptel 1007 May 7 to Ankara3 (see Ankara’s tel 1226 May 11 to Dept4).
Request Ankara seize early opportunity reassure FonMin and Belgrade take similar occasion inform Turk Amb that US fully supports concepts of rapprochement between three nations, and is hopeful it will proceed as rapidly as pertinent circumstances permit. Caution expressed to Turk FonMin by Amb Ankara was prompted solely by impression US had recd that Turks and Grks may have intended ask NATO forthwith undertake study Yugo problem. There are certain indications which have reached Dept that situation is not yet ripe to take such step in NATO, and Dept was concerned lest possible rebuff in NATO wld prejudice progress on bi or trilateral basis between Greece, Turkey and Yugo.
- Drafted by Marcy and cleared with Rountree and Barbour. Repeated to Ankara for action and to Paris, London, and Rome for information.↩
- supra.↩
- Telegram 1007, repeated to Athens, instructed the Ambassadors in Greece and Turkey to request the appropriate Greek and Turkish officials to postpone the presentation of the proposal for Yugoslav-Greek-Turkish defense planning to the NATO staff until full consultation had taken place with the United States. (681.82/5–652)↩
- Telegram 1226 reported that Köprülü, in response to McGhee’s remarks, had assured McGhee that no military conversations would for the time being be initiated by the Turks. (681.82/5–1152)↩