No. 174
Editorial Note

On January 20, the Department of State sent five telegrams to the Embassies in Ankara and Karachi concerning the forthcoming Turkish–Pakistan agreement. Telegram 783 to Ankara, repeated as 547 to Karachi, offered suggestions for Embassy guidance in discussions with the Foreign Offices on the principal points that might be included in a joint Turkish–Pakistan communiqué on the decision to hold exploratory talks. Telegram 784 to Ankara, repeated as 548 to Karachi, presented a suggested outline of points which might be covered in a Turkish statement to the North Atlantic Council on the impending conversations with Pakistan. Telegram 785 to Ankara, repeated as 549 to Karachi and 857 to New Delhi, transmitted a proposed statement for the President to issue if a favorable decision on military aid to Pakistan were made after the announcement of Turkish–Pakistan consultation. Telegram 786 to Ankara, repeated as 550 to Karachi and 858 to New Delhi, transmitted a proposed statement for the Secretary of State to issue, welcoming the decision of Turkey and Pakistan to hold talks on joint defense problems.

[Page 458]

Telegram 787 to Ankara, repeated as 551 to Karachi and 859 to New Delhi, transmitted the draft of a personal message from President Eisenhower to Prime Minister Nehru in the case of a favorable United States decision on military aid to Pakistan. It ended by saying that the message would be delivered a day or two before the public answer to Pakistan and stressed the fact that the message was only a draft sent to the Embassy for suggestions. Documentation is in Department of State file 780.5.