247. Telegram From the Embassy in Greece to the Department of State1
3594. Rome for McSweeney. During talk with Makarios today I urged him to make statement favorable towards Turks of Cyprus. He said Turkish Cypriots had been almost as violent as Turks in Ankara in condemning Greece for welcoming him to Athens. Nevertheless, he asserted he would try his best to placate Turks of Cyprus. I expressed view that best way to defeat partition would be for Cypriot Turks to show they were opposed. He expressed confidence they would do so after period of self-government. I asked if he planned to make counter proposals to Radcliffe constitution. He said he had plans which he would bring forward at appropriate moment.
When I urged him to visit London, he said he planned to go but not at present because under existing atmosphere he would be castigated in London as terrorist. I said he could remove this danger by convincing evidence that he is man of peace.
Comment: I doubt he can be persuaded to visit London as long as he is being strongly attacked in Turkish and some British circles. He is aware that his visit might incite further adverse Turkish reaction.
- Source: Department of State, Central Files, 747C.00/4–26S7. Secret. Repeated to London, Paris Topol, Ankara, Nicosia, and Rome.↩