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

780.5/10–652: Telegram

No. 92
The Secretary of State to the Embassy in the United Kingdom¹

secret

Washington, October 6, 1952—2:03 p.m.

2434. Dept has recd Grkaide-mémoire thru Am Emb Athens² similar those delivered other sponsoring powers requesting Grk participation seven-power discussions re org ME defense. Grk Amb in discussing question with Dept made clear that Grks wish become MEDO sponsor.

Dept recognizes that (1) Greece not located in ME and thus unable supply bases or facilities for ME defense, (2) Greece cannot be expected make significant contribution of troops or equipment to ME defense. Grk Amb has stated to Dept Greece has important influence with Arab States, which if true wld be possible compensating factor but little evidence this in fact case. On above basis Dept does not consider Greece shld become member MEDO. If, in spite these considerations, Greece admitted MEDO, wld be difficult exclude certain other states peripheral to ME with similar or even slighter justification for membership. Moreover because of possible important role of Cyprus in MEDO, Grk admission might create difficulties this connection.

If Grk participation limited to discussions looking toward estab of org, as note may be interpreted, suggest such participation wld merely inject further complication in difficult task of developing concerted viewpoint without accomplishing any useful purpose.

On other hand because of geographical position Greece has certain interest in development org and plans for area defense which Dept believes justifies effort keep Grks informed MEDO developments.

On basis foregoing and subj views other sponsors Dept proposes reply Grks along fol line: Sponsoring powers appreciate that Greece has an interest in ME defense. Prelim exchange of views among MEDO sponsors nearing completion, at which time sponsors plan inform Grks generally of position reached and will welcome any comments they may care to make. MEDO when established is expected to include states geographically within ME and certain other states which will contribute forces, facilities or mil equipment to ME defense. Although on this basis it does not appear that Greece shld form part of org, Greece’s geographical position and gen interest in problem of ME defense such as to warrant keeping Greece currently informed MEDO developments. Normally this will be accomplished through NATO channels, but direct dipl channels will be used when it seems desirable supply supplementary info or where problems of special interest to Greece are involved.

Addressees requested discuss this matter with Fon Off of Govt to which accredited. If proposed reply to Grks generally acceptable, Dept suggests desirability all sponsoring powers replying along similar lines.³

In course discussion Fon Off addressees requested canvass desirability of informing certain other countries with interest in ME defense of MEDO developments. Dept has in mind Italy, Pakistan and India. Italy, like Greece, will receive info thru NATO channels, but in Dept’s view might reasonably be accorded any additional courtesy extended Greece. Pakistan and India will have no NATO source info.

Dept assumes they will normally be kept informed through Commonwealth channels but that other sponsors also wld be free if they shld desire to communicate with them re MEDO.

Paris pass MacArthur for info only.

Acheson

1. Also sent to Paris, Ankara, Wellington, Canberra, and Pretoria, and repeated for information to Athens and to Rome for Unger. Drafted by Dixon and Daspit, and cleared by NEA, GTI, NE, SOA, BNA, WE, RA, and S/S–CR.
2. The Greek aide-mémoire was transmitted as an enclosure to despatch 284 from Athens, Sept. 12. (780.5/9–1252)

3. Telegrams from the Embassies indicated that all other sponsors of MEDO except France replied they agreed with the position of the United States and would so inform the Greek Government. Documentation is in Department of State file 780.5. (Telegrams 2060 from London, Oct. 8; 92 from Pretoria, Oct. 8; 133 from Canberra, Oct. 9; 103 from Wellington, Oct. 10; and 496 from Ankara, Oct. 16) A memorandum of conversation by Daspit, dated Sept. 25, not printed, reported a conversation with the Counselor of the French Embassy on that date in which he informed Daspit that the French Government was inclined to feel that the inclusion of Greece in the Organization would have certain political advantages. (780.5/9–2552)

   Telegram 6254 to London, repeated as 2891 to Athens, Mar. 19, 1953, not printed, informed the Embassies that the Department of State had never formally transmitted an answer to the Greek request to join MEDO. It added, however, that the Department had “informally indicated on several occasions that discussion of Greek association with MEDO premature and have no objection Fon Off volunteering this observation to Greeks at present time.” (780.5/3–1853) In July 1953, Byroade informed the Greek Ambassador there was little likelihood that the MEDO would be set up. The United States had not given up the concept of an organization for Middle Eastern defense, but if it eventually materialized it would have a name and form different from that originally contemplated for MEDO. (Memorandum of conversation, July 17, 1953; 780.00/7–1753)