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

747C.00/12–1854: Telegram

No. 411
The Secretary of State to the Department of State¹

confidential
priority

Paris, December 18, 1954—1 p.m.

Secto 16. In response Greek newspapermen’s requests for comment on Cyprus UN action. Secretary today authorized reply which was handed out routinely through USRO press officer. Expect story to appear Sunday morning Athens papers.

FYI, Greek Foreign Minister had urged Secretary make statement re-affirming solidarity and warmth Greek-American relations and underlining long tradition of friendship between countries.² Greek Foreign Minister was shown advance copy proposed text and concurred in language.³

Begin verbatim text.

“One of the real pleasures of this North Atlantic Council meeting has been the opportunity to confer again personally with my friend, Mister Stephanopoulos, the Foreign Minister of Greece. I might say that one of the important reasons why we have had so successful a Council meeting was the effective leadership of the Greek Foreign Minister in his role of chairman of the Council of Ministers. My first action on arriving at Paris was to have a private conference with Mister Stephanopoulos. We had a long and friendly discussion of the Cyprus issue which was then under discussion in the Political Committee of the General Assembly of the United Nations in New York. Immediately following this discussion, I communicated personally with Washington and with the United States delegation to the United Nations in New York.⁴ Late that evening the resolution under consideration in the Political Committee was amended and passed in the amended form by an overwhelming majority.⁵ On the basis of the reports which I have had from New York, I believe that the resolution on Cyprus, as amended, meets in substantial degree on the points which the Foreign Minister raised in his discussion with me. I am happy that this resolution, which reflects the spirit of moderation, found such broad support.

It is a matter of deep regret that the attitude of the United States on the Cyprus matter seems to be to some extent misunderstood in Greece. Such misunderstandings are unfortunately inevitable even as between peoples who have the deepest respect and regard for each other. I am, however, confident that the long tradition of friendship between the Greek and the American peoples will continue unimpaired.

I was particularly pleased to support at the Council meeting the proposal that the next meeting of the North Atlantic Ministers in the spring should be held in Athens.”⁶

End verbatim text.

Dulles

1. Repeated to London and Athens and passed to USUN.
2. Regarding Stephanopoulos’ request for a statement by Dulles, see Document 407.

3. A memorandum by Merchant to Dulles, Dec. 21, reads:

   “On Sunday [Dec. 19] at noon after Ambassador Hughes’ luncheon [in Paris] I took the opportunity of explaining to Tony Rumbold, Sir Anthony Eden’s private secretary, the circumstances under which you had seen the Greek Foreign Minister, Stefanopoulos, and later agreed to give a statement to Greek journalists. I said that we were not giving out the statement either in Paris or at home and doubted that it would be picked up from the Greek press but that you were naturally anxious that Sir Anthony be aware of the background and circumstances.” (747C.00/12–2154)

4. For a report on this meeting, Dec. 15, see Document 406.
5. For the voting in Committee I (Political Committee) of the U.N. General Assembly on the Cyprus question, Dec. 15, see the editorial note, supra.
6. A bracketed note on p. 4 of the paper, “Cyprus Background,” prepared by Wood, Sept. 21, 1956, reads as follows: “At British insistence meeting was not held in Athens.” (Athens Embassy files, lot 66 F 94, “Cyprus 1966, Athens (56) Cyprus (Consolidated)”).