780.5/1–2354: Telegram
No. 178
The Acting
Secretary of State to the Embassy
in Turkey1
priority
816. Limited distribution. Part I of II parts. Re Embtel 755.2
- 1.
- Department considers that US–Turk agreement on all significant points has now been reached and that Turks might now act immediately inform Pakistanis as proposed sub para 4(a) ref tel. US Ambassador Karachi hereby instructed consult with his Turkish colleague, and following Turk approach should inform Pakistan of US support Turk–Pakistan arrangement and in confidence of US decision supply military assistance Pakistan in framework of Pak–Turk agreement.
- 2.
- Believe full US–Turk agreement already recorded on general
nature various moves proposed Para 5, Deptel 773,3 with two exceptions:
- A.
- Turks suggest possibly better for US Secretary of State not to issue public statement welcoming Turk–Pakistan arrangements. Department shares desire of Turks that US role in these developments should be minimized and accordingly agrees preferable that US reaction be indicated in Secretary’s press conference.
- B.
- Nature of Turk approach to Afghanistan. This subject of Part II this message.
- 3.
- Re timing of moves, Department offers following comments:
- A.
- Assume that Turk approach to Pakistan will be made during present week. As Turks suggest, speed with which agreement can be reached on date for issuance Turk–Pakistan communiqué will depend on degree to which Pakistan government position already develped. Once this date is set diplomatic preparation will, of course, be keyed to it. Turk view that approaches to Iran, India, Afghanistan should take place 2 or 3 days in advance communiqué entirely acceptable.
- B.
- Re Turk approach Iraq, agree that this might be undertaken shortly after agreement reached with Pakistan. Note that US will be informed prior such approach.
- C.
- Re consultaton with France, agree French should be informed by Turks at once. Assuming this will have been accomplished before January 28, Department will follow up with approach to French Embassy Washington that date.
- D.
- Re presentation NATO, Department considers it would be preferable if Turks felt able make statement NAC at approximately same time as diplomatic approaches to Iran, Afghanistan and India—that is two or three days prior communiqué. Believe NATO members would appreciate this much advance notice. In event this not feasible, believe statement should at least be made same day.
- 4.
-
A. Re form of arrangement between Turkey and Pakistan it is, of course, for Turks to decide precise form agreement may appropriately take. Department wishes recall, however, that when Turks originally consulted point was made that best way for US give military aid Pakistan would be in form of support for some form of regional defense cooperation initiated by states in area (Deptel 686 to Ankara).4 It was Department’s understanding that Turks agreed to and endorsed this proposal (Ankara’s 699).5
B. With Pakistan request for military aid following closely on Turk–Pak communiqué re talks and US reply pegged to this, Department considers that defense implications of arrangements will be clear. Although Department has no objection to avoidance term “defense” and placing main emphasis agreement in political field, hopes that Turks will at least feel able use phrase “security co-operation agreement” which appears para. 1 their memo (Embtel 755). This would be helpful in presentation of case for US arms assistance. We prepared, of course, accept Turkey’s position this matter but would welcome opportunity making further comment when draft agreement available.
- 5.
- Draft text public statements will be revised to take into account final position.
- 6.
- Department has informed British Embassy current status.
- Drafted by Byroade, Kennedy and Daspit; and cleared by S/S. Repeated to Karachi, New Delhi, London, Paris, and HICOG Berlin.↩
- Not printed, but see footnote 3, Document 175.↩
- Document 173.↩
- Document 164.↩
- Not printed, but see footnote 2, Document 170.↩