349. Preliminary Notes of a Meeting of the Operations Coordinating Board0
[Here follows agenda item 1.]
2. Report and Operations Plan on Turkey (Secret)1
Mr. Oliver Marcy, Deputy Director, and Mr. A. Guy Hope of the Office of Greek, Turkish, and Iranian Affairs were present for the OCB discussion of the Turkish papers.
There was a prolonged discussion of the recommendation by the Working Group that there is no need for the NSC to review US policy toward Turkey (NSC 5708/2)2 at this time. The Acting Chairman, Mr. Harr (White House) said he could not reconcile important sections of the policy paper with the Working Group’s recommendation. In developing his thesis Mr. Harr, supported by Mr. Gray, alleged that some current operations were not wholly consonant with policy particularly with regard to MSP guidance such as on force levels and support; further that events have overtaken the policy, or will shortly. Mr. Harr thought that decisions which the NSC should make are being taken elsewhere and that the OCB, by foregoing NSC policy review, is, in effect, precluding the NSC from exercising its function with regard to Turkey, a decision which Messrs. Harr and Gray felt only the President himself should make.
In response to Messrs. Harr and Gray, the other members of the Board commented as follows: Mr. Reinhardt noted his understanding that only three NSC papers dealt with force levels; it would appear, therefore, that these instances were exceptions rather than the rule. Mr. Williams (Defense) said that Defense considered the policy guidance was adequate for their operations, although they would not be opposed to a policy review. Mr. Reinhardt indicated that the same was true for the Department. Mr. Saccio (ICA) noted that it was a daily function of the Mutual Security Coordinator to make decisions within NSC policy guidelines with regard to MSP programming levels.
On Mr. Reinhardt’s recommendation, the Board approved the Operations Plan but withheld approval of the Report pending further [Page 819] study of the problems posed and upcoming consideration by the NSC of the Annual MSP Report to the National Security Council.
There was also a discussion of the problem of community relations in Turkey. Mr. Marcy gave an oral report on the conclusions of the State–Defense Working Group. Mr. Gray wondered if the problem were amenable to solution or if it were an inherent consequence of having American troops overseas. Mr. Allen (USIA) said that frictions could be eased if not wholly eliminated. Mr. Williams said the Defense Department sincerely regrets the incidents occurring in Turkey and has made a real effort to reduce them. He cited figures which indicated that the number of incidents in Turkey is the second lowest in Europe. There were some expressions of incredulity at this information. Mr. Marcy noted a formal report would soon be made by the Special Working Group to their principals. He believed that the recommendations of the Working Group would be of assistance in meeting the problem of community relations.
[Here follow the remaining agenda items.]
- Source: Department of State, OCB Files: Lot 61 D 385, M/OP Informal Notes 1959. Secret. The approved minutes of the November 18 meeting, dated November 25, are ibid.: Lot 62 D 430, Minutes VII.↩
- A copy of the Operations Plan for Turkey, dated November 25, is Ibid., Turkey. The approved report on Turkey is printed as Document 352. No copy of the draft report was found.↩
- For text of NSC 5708/2, see Foreign Relations, 1955–1957, vol. XXIV, pp. 720–727.↩