Foreign Relations of the United States, 1952–1954, Eastern Europe; Soviet Union; Eastern Mediterranean, Volume VIII

747C.00/12–154: Telegram

No. 400
The Ambassador in Greece (Cannon) to the Department of State

secret

Athens, December 1, 1954—5 p.m.

1168. Papagos has handed me letter for Secretary¹ in response Secretary’s letter of November 16² on Cyprus question.

Am forwarding today’s pouch.

Letter stresses two arguments: First, matter is not British-Cypriot but essentially British-Greek dispute; second, solution confusing self-government with self-determination is “delusion.” Otherwise repetition familiar points though on somewhat higher plane and in more moderate language that earlier communications.

Though it appears in direct opposition to thesis presented Embtel 1166 today’s date³ we take it to be essentially formal statement Greek position for record and still believe our recommendations valid.

Cannon

1. Dated Nov. 30, not printed. (Enclosure to despatch 497 from Athens, Dec. 1; 747C.00/12–154)
2. Document 396.
3. Supra.