Foreign Relations of the United States, 1958–1960, Eastern Europe; Finland; Greece; Turkey, Volume X, Part 2

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

Ankara, May 20, 1960, 3 p.m.

2639. Within last week I sent Prime Minister word by our Consul General Istanbul and Minister Defense Menderes I would like see him as soon as it could be done without being connected with domestic political developments. He asked for me 1730 hours May 19 and received me alone.

I found him excellent spirits and physically fit. He looked relaxed, rested although he had returned 2230 hours night before from exhausting Izmir area trip. I repeated reason why I had not asked see him sooner after Tehran and NATO meetings and commented favorably on those meetings. He then took up conversation, making following points:

A. Too bad Istanbul Conference had come this particular juncture Turk political developments. However, Turk NATO allies were able see circumstances under which GOT has operate and nothing bad had occurred. He would have preferred meeting take place under normal Turk conditions.

B. Situation now entirely under control. GOT and army have accomplished this with maximum restraint and minimum abrasive action. Only one student killed Istanbul. Postmortem shows he died result ricochet bullet. (He did not mention another student death resulting from student being crushed when falling from tank he attempted mount. F. W.) This, the Prime Minister thought, minimum casualty that could be expected from such demonstration at Istanbul. He thinks worst of recent controversy now passed, that calm will perforce return Turkey.

C. Recent controversy not between two parties but between GOT and group determined subvert present government. For many months GOT has been telling people this taking place. Group spoke of revolution, ousting government, people taking over. All this went back to one 80-year old man, an aged man, Inonu. His course about run. He had depended upon army but army supporting constituted authority. Group spoke about constitution but group was the force working against constitutional government. However, Inonu too old have anything value offer present Turk Army. Army will not become anti-American or Arabian. It knows its role Turkish society and will play that role to letter.

D. Group now defeated. Peace and calm will return Turkey and cost lives, casualties will have been minimum. Next will come elections. He did not give me impression elections imminent but replying my question stated clearly elections now in train. He also declared his recent trip Izmir had shown him individuals who originally disposed support Inonu and his group all now becoming divorced from any support for group undertaking.

E. After asking for and hearing my résumé events connected U–2 affair,¹ he said convinced from what information GOT has that Khrushchev actions Paris motivated internal conditions USSR. Reaffirmed Turkey’s friendship, alliance with USA this affair. Showed same imperturbability re Soviet attitude as heretofore and same calm confidence USA. (I have never known a better ally. F. W.)

F. Referred visit here May 20 Prime Minister Nehru. Said much water run under bridge since he last saw Nehru India. Thinks many his ideas may have changed (context what had been said made me think he had in mind Chinese-Indian border difficulty, Nehru’s talks with Nasser, and U–2 summit developments. F. W.). At any rate he stated would take pleasure talking with Nehru effort sound him out.

G. He referred Inonu and Gulek. Said enough indicate he has not very high opinion Gulek. Started say something about latter and Inonu, smiled and continued “I don’t need say that about them”.

My efforts were confined encourage Prime Minister talk, so I said little. However, I did make two observations:

1. In connection ? and C above, I stressed remarkable performance Turk Army in handling student demonstrations. I said Turkey, USA, entire West could be grateful that well-led and understanding Turk Army had acquitted itself so well present controversy. A differently led, differently acting military could have produced an entirely different, deplorably different result. Menderes nodded assent.

2. When Prime Minister speaking re opposition in C and D supra, I asked how he foresaw “group” could escape from present intransigent position. He said that is group’s problem. When one insists rubbing his nose against stone wall he should not be surprised he must pull back after a while. I said I understood but endeavor being to restore peace and calm it would be easier do so if group given an easy exit. I repeated easy exit idea twice. I do not recall he responded. (I did not take notes this conversation. Foregoing reproduced from memory. F. W.)

Warren

0. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 782.00/5–2060. Confidential; Limit Distribution. Transmitted in two sections.
1. Reference is to the shooting down by the Soviet Union of a U.S. reconnaissance intelligence aircraft and the subsequent breakdown on May 16 of the four-power summit conference in Paris.