Foreign Relations of the United States, 1952–1954, The Near and Middle East, Volume IX, Part 1

780.5/1–2154: Telegram

No. 175
The Ambassador in Turkey (Warren) to the Department of State¹

top secret
priority

Ankara, January 21, 1954—11 p.m.

747. Reference my telegram 733 January 19.² In meeting with Foreign Minister and Under Secretary Birgi late this afternoon, Turks expressed full agreement all main points Department telegram 773 and promised text reply tomorrow.³ Turks prepared move immediately. Birgi summarized Turkish views as follows:

1. Complete agreement with US views re agreement with Pakistan and will draft accordingly. Will instruct Ambassador Karachi initiate talks with Pakistanis and agree text communiqué in consultation Hildreth. (Department telegram 783⁴ not received in time inform Turks our views re text today.) Turks feel word “defense” should be avoided in title agreement and will seek suitable phraseology as in case tripartite pact.

2. Agree on proposed series moves ending with US announcement intention extend military aid Pakistan, and on need utmost secrecy especially early stages.

3. Reference US statement welcoming Turkish–Pakistani communiqué, Turks urge desirability avoid impression US instigation. They have the advance draft.

4. Turks agree timing needs careful coordination. They propose approach Iraq on basis outlined Foreign Office memorandum January 11 (Embassy telegram 699).⁵ Turkish Ambassador Baghdad will present Turkish–Pakistani initiative in light invitation to Iraqis to join or simply as information according receptivity shown by Jamali; in any event making clear Turks and Pakistanis are going ahead.

5. In informing Afghans, Turks will explain nature agreement emphasizing it in no way changes Turkish position impartiality in Pushtoonistan question. Turks will offer written assurances if desired. Telegram from Turkish Ambassador Kabul just received reports conversation with Afghan Foreign Minister in which latter clearly intimated desired Turks act as go-between seek US military aid. Turks feel this démarche offers interesting possibility obtain eventual Afghan cooperation. Afghan Foreign Minister referred inter alia to impossibility accepting any military aid from USSR. Yesterday Afghan Ambassador here came to see me and referring reports defense arrangement involving Turkey, Pakistan and perhaps Iraq and Iran, asked if we intended leave Afghanistan “out in cold on other side”.

6. Turkish Ambassador Tehran will inform Iranians of Turkish–Pakistani talks without any reference possible Iranian participation proposed agreement.

7. Turkish Chargé at New Delhi will merely inform Indians, leaving it to US and Pakistan offer further explanations and assurances.

8. Turks agree it important fully inform British and French soonest and seek their cooperation and advice in presentation to NAC Department’s views this subject received in time present at today’s meeting (Department telegram 784).⁶ Foreign Minister indicated general agreement and promised immediate study. Turks indicated, however, they had envisaged making statement to NAC immediately after Turkish–Pakistani communiqué rather than before. Expressed fear otherwise fairly complicated timing various diplomatic approaches might be upset.

9. Turks entirely agree desirability full advance consultation US-Turkish-Pakistan Governments on texts indicated Department telegram 773.

10. Text Turkish reply will spell out proposal re tactics and timing.

Warren

1. Repeated to Karachi, New Delhi, Paris, and London.
2. Not printed; the Ambassador reported he had given the aide-mémoire to the Foreign Office and expected to see the Foreign Minister the next day. (780.5/1–1954)
3. Telegram 773 is printed as Document 173. The Turkish Foreign Office memorandum, dated Jan. 21, was transmitted in telegram 755 from Ankara, Jan. 23, not printed. (780.5/1–2354)
4. Not printed, but see the editorial note, supra.
5. Not printed, but see footnote 2, Document 170.
6. Not printed, but see the editorial note, supra.