228. Telegram From the Embassy in Greece to the Department of State1
3060. Prime Minister Karamanlis and Foreign Minister Averoff asked me to meet them at Prime Minister’s house today for long discussion on Cyprus. Prime Minister handed me personal letter from King Paul to President Eisenhower (being transmitted under covering letter to Secretary) which expresses appreciation for US offer of good offices in Cyprus question and urging President to request Macmillan during Bermuda talks to release Makarios.2
Prime Minister emphasized that next two months will provide best opportunity to settle Cyprus issue. Advantage should be taken of UN resolution to act now and avoid complications which arise every year beginning in June or July regarding further Cyprus debates in UN. Prime Minister re-emphasized that release of Makarios is only possible way to achieve results and expressed confidence that following such release acceptable solution will be found. It is clear that both he and Averoff are now thinking almost exclusively along lines of independence. Karamanlis said he was confident Makarios himself preferred independence to Enosis and that as soon as GOG could make contact with him it would make useful suggestions to him.
Averoff is confident that British are looking [for] face-saving formula to give them excuse for releasing Makarios. British Ambassador asked him last week what GOG could do to make this possible. In parliamentary debate last night, Averoff expressed confidence that fighting in Cyprus would stop if Makarios were released. Opposition is attacking him today on ground that he has offered to bargain for release of Makarios, and he admits that this was purpose of his statement as assurance that Greek Government would make every effort to obtain cease-fire if Makarios is released. Karamanlis added that more and more people, including President of UNGA, are pressing British to release Makarios and that everyone concerned with Cyprus question would feel great surge of enthusiasm if this step taken. I expressed doubts that Turks would show much pleasure [Page 460] since they do not regard him as spokesman for all Cypriots. Averoff said Turks also want satisfactory Cyprus settlement and must be aware that no progress towards either partition or independence is possible without Makarios.
I said I believed most Americans thought Makarios should be released but question was how strongly this be pressed on Government of UK. Karamanlis said we should stand up for our political principles.
Comment: I have come with some reluctance to conclusion that British hope of finding more tractable elements to deal with in Cyprus have proved unjustified. Makarios appears to be gaining strength among Greek Cypriots, much as exiled Sultan did among Moroccans. Makarios has achieved too well-established position among Cypriots to be either supplanted or put aside. Since British must eventually deal with him or else continue to have sullen, uncooperative and quarrelsome majority on Cyprus even after organized resistance is put down, they would save much trouble for themselves and everyone else by bringing Makarios to London now.
I am still not happy about independence as solution and reminded Prime Minister today that Soviets would start intriguing in Cyprus at first possible opportunity. Moreover, many Cypriots will continue to agitate for Enosis and internal turmoil result, much as it did in Texas, where annexation of Republic finally brought on war with Mexico.
Despite foregoing I agree that Cyprus problem must be solved some way and if Greece and Turkey are willing to accept guaranteed independence, … if supported by Makarios, with whom British should reopen talks as first order of business under UN resolution.
- Source: Department of State, Central Files, 747C.00/3–1357. Secret. Repeated to Paris Topol, London, Ankara, and Nicosia.↩
- A copy of this letter is in Eisenhower Library, Whitman File, International File. Referring to Makarios, King Paul noted: “According to the Greek mentality, there is no other personality or authority that could be found in Cyprus or Greece, under present circumstances, to take any decisions that could ever be accepted by all concerned.” Eisenhower was scheduled to hold discussions with Prime Minister Macmillan on Bermuda, March 21–24.↩