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  3. Foreign Relations of the United States, 1958–1960, Volume X, Part 1, Eastern Europe Region; Soviet Union; Cyprus
  4. Document 184

184. Memorandum of Conversation0

Washington, February 5, 1958.

SUBJECT

  • Cyprus—Message from Mr. Selwyn Lloyd regarding proposed talks in Athens

PARTICIPANTS

  • Sir Harold Caccia, the British Ambassador
  • Viscount Hood, British Minister
  • The Secretary
  • Mr. C. Burke Elbrick, Assistant Secretary, EUR
  • Mr. Lampton Berry, Acting Assistant Secretary, NEA
  • Mr. Murat W. Williams, Deputy Director, GTI

The British Ambassador called on the Secretary today to give him a “private message” from Mr. Selwyn Lloyd regarding Cyprus:

The British Ambassador in Athens was being instructed to tell Prime Minister Karamanlis that Mr. Selwyn Lloyd would like to come to Athens about February 10 to talk about Cyprus. The form of the talks would be very much the same as those last week in Ankara between Mr. Selwyn Lloyd and Prime Minister Menderes, that is, there would be no formal “cut-and-dried” proposals. Mr. Lloyd would intend to concentrate on the external or strategic aspects of the problem and the desirability of a three-power conference to discuss the external, strategic requirements. The Ambassador said that Mr. Lloyd was not too confident that this would be acceptable to the Greeks, but that he thought it was the best thing to do. Whether or not Sir Hugh Foot joins Mr. Lloyd in Athens will depend on how the talks go. The British were informing Menderes of these proposed talks and they hope that he and the Greeks keep it secret for the present.

In answer to a question, the Ambassador said that he did not know what the position was in regard to Mr. Spaak’s participating in a three power conference. He asked what the Secretary would think about this.

The Secretary replied that he thought it would help to have Spaak take part in a conference with the Greeks and Turks, especially, he said, because the Greeks are fearful of being isolated in such discussions. He added that having a fourth element present would be an inducement for the Greeks to take part.

Note: After leaving the Secretary’s office, Mr. Berry proposed to the Ambassador that we inform our Embassy in Athens on an “Eyes Only Basis” and suggest that our charge d’Affaires coordinate with the [Page 590] British Ambassador. If the British Ambassador in Athens has no objections, our charge d’Affaires might see Karamanlis and tell him that the United States Government hopes that the Greek Government will look favorably upon Mr. Lloyd’s proposal to come to Athens for these private talks. Sir Harold Caccia said he thought this would be helpful.

1 Telegram 2386 to Athens, February 5, summarized the conversation between Dulles and Caccia and instructed the Embassy as follows: “You should coordinate with British Ambassador and if he perceives no objection you should tell Karamanlis we hope he will look favorably upon Lloyd’s desire for private discussions with him in Athens.” ( Ibid .)

  1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 747C.00/2–558. Top Secret. Drafted by Williams and initialed by Berry.↩