Office of the Historian

235. Telegram From the Embassy in Turkey to the Department of State0

Ankara, June 17, 1958, 6 p.m.

3113. Paris for USRO, West and Thurston. Rome for McSweeney. I called on Prime Minister Menderes 4 p.m. June 17 and conveyed Secretary Dulles message orally as outlined Deptel 37221 paragraph 2 and last paragraph Polto 4202.2 (On leaving I left copy of talking paper with Prime Minister.) Foreign Minister Zorlu who also present, commented that report of latest NAC meetings not received from Turkish delegation NATO. Referring to Secretary’s message, Zorlu said that for two years [Page 664] GOT had accepted idea of tripartite conference and that declaration to that effect had been made by Turkish delegation NATO. Zorlu also mentioned he had heard that Greek delegate NATO Melas had stated that he unable to accept idea of tripartite conference because he lacked instructions. Prime Minister then said that in principal GOT does not refuse come together to discuss problem; however, in order to give more precise reply, he would have to first study Secretary’s message. He concluded with promise to speak to me again as soon as possible on this subject.

Comment: Both Prime Minister and Foreign Minister were more relaxed than I had seen them in a long time. Atmosphere of meeting was almost jovial.

Warren
  1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 747C.00/6–1758. Secret; Niact. Repeated to London, Paris, Athens, Rome, and Nicosia.↩
  2. See footnote 2, Document 231.↩
  3. Document 231.↩