S/S–NSC files, lot 63 D 351, NSC 36 Series
No. 462
Memorandum by the Secretary of State to the Executive Secretary of the
National Security Council (Lay)1
top secret
[Washington,] April 17, 1952.
Subject:
- NSC 36/1 “Stockpiling of Aviation
Gasoline in Turkey.”
The conclusions of NSC 36/1, approved by
the President on April 21, 1949,2 required the Department of State to keep
under continuous review the question of seeking an arrangement with the
Turkish Government for the construction of the airfields envisaged in
NSC 36 and the stockpiling of
aviation gasoline as proposed in the Secretary of Defense’s memorandum
of April 2, 1949 to the Executive Secretary of the NSC.3 It had been
concluded at that time that circumstances were not favorable for seeking
such arrangements with the Turkish Government.
With respect to airfield construction, arrangements have since been
reached with the Turkish Government within other terms of reference, and
construction work undertaken, on which a report to the Council is now in
preparation.
With respect to the stockpiling of aviation gasoline, the Department of
State believes that circumstances now are favorable for Council
reconsideration of the proposal of the Secretary of Defense. The
American Embassy at Ankara reports that, under certain conditions, it
would be timely and appropriate to make an approach to the Turkish
authorities with respect to the aviation gasoline project. The American
Embassy in Moscow does not consider that possible Soviet reaction to the
stockpiling of aviation gasoline in Turkey should be considered a
determining factor in case a decision has been reached within this
Government on the basis of military necessity. Moreover, the admittance
of Turkey into the North Atlantic Treaty Organization places the project
in a new light.
It is accordingly requested that this memorandum and the enclosed
discussion of the problem be circulated for the information
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of the Council and referred to
the Senior Staff for preparation of appropriate recommendations.
[Enclosure]
Subject:
- Stockpiling of Aviation Gasoline in Turkey
- 1.
- In a memorandum to the National Security Council of April 2,
1949, the Secretary of Defense stated that the Joint Chiefs of
Staff had approved a project to stockpile aviation gasoline in
Turkey subject to clearance by the Department of State. At that
time only a small quantity of aviation gasoline was involved
(12,000 barrels). The Joint Chiefs of Staff had also approved
the recommendation that authority should be given to CINCNELM to proceed with
negotiations on this matter, subject to the following
conditions: (a) that the matter be cleared by the Department of
State and (b) that upon initiation of the project CINCNELM be directed to
consider stockpiling of aviation gasoline in Turkey from an
over-all requirements point of view rather than from the point
of view of naval requirements.
- 2.
- The project, as outlined in the memorandum of April 2, 1949 of
the Secretary of Defense, was considered in conjunction with the
study of the desirability of seeking an arrangement with the
Turkish Government for the construction of airfields, which
study took the form of NSC 36/1.
The conclusions reached in NSC
36/1 were that
“it would be unwise at this time to seek an arrangement
with the Turkish Government, . . .4 for the stockpiling of
aviation gasoline referred to in the communication of
April 2, 1949.…
“. . . the Department of State should keep the matter
under continuous review with a view to reconsideration
by the National Security Council when more favorable
circumstances justify.”
- 3.
- The Department understands that the Department of the Navy, on
behalf of itself and the Department of the Air Force, seeks the
establishment of the following gasoline storage facilities for
the United States Armed Forces in Turkey:
- Navy—1200 barrels each at Balikesir and Diyarbekir, to
be available for use in connection with 6th Fleet
carrier-based aircraft missions involving attacks on
targets in the Caspian and Black Sea area and possibly
in support of ground forces.
- Air Force—100,000 barrels at Adana and 10,000 barrels
each at Balikesir and Diyarbekir, based on post-strike
medium bombardment
[Page 883]
operations centered on Adana with
a small reserve for cripples at the other two
fields.
- 4.
- Embassy Ankara believes that reasonable stockpiling
implemented as normal MDAPPOL shipments
can be accomplished without giving rise to suspicions. However,
the facilities now available in Turkey would probably not make
it possible for the full requirements as specified in paragraph
3 above to be met. The Embassy suggests that the project should
be under the guise of Turkish stockpiling and not involve
written agreements with the Turkish Government and that the
United States should pay all costs, including transportation,
storage fees and expenses incident to periodic rotation. The
Embassy further suggests an approach to the Turkish Chief of
Staff on the project.
- 5.
- Embassy Moscow does not consider that Soviet reaction to
stockpiling of aviation gasoline should be considered as a
determining factor if a decision has been reached regarding the
military necessity therefor. However, it does consider it
desirable that stockpiling be done in the name of Turkey and
that any agreement with the Turks be oral.
- 6.
- Turkey became a full member of NATO on February 18, 1952 upon deposit of its
instrument of accession to the North Atlantic Treaty. It is thus
in a much stronger position than before to cooperate with the
United States and other NATO
members in undertaking measures of mutual security.
Nevertheless, caution should be exercised in carrying out such
measures, which, should they become known, might expose Turkey
to increases pressures from the Soviet Union.
- 7.
- In light of the above, the Department perceives no objection
at this time to seeking an arrangement with the Turkish
Government for the stockpiling of aviation gasoline in Turkey
provided that (a) the stockpiling is done under the cover of
stockpiling for the Turkish Armed Forces, (b) the gasoline is
stockpiled in amounts and in a manner which the Department of
State and the Department of Defense in collaboration with the
American Ambassador in Turkey and the Chief of the Joint
Military Mission for aid to Turkey (JAMMAT) agree are reasonable, (c) every effort is
made and precaution taken to prevent knowledge of the role of
the United States in the stockpiling coming to the attention of
the Soviets, and (d) arrangements between the United States and
Turkey are on an oral basis.
