Office of the Historian

367. Letter From President Eisenhower to President Gursel0

Washington, June 11, 1960.

Dear Mr. President: My several visits to Turkey have given me a deep and abiding interest in the Turkish people and the problems that over the years have confronted them. When you recently became head of state, I followed with particular interest the constructive public statements which you made to your countrymen and to the world at large.

Your expressed determination to hold elections and to turn over the government administration to the newly-elected authorities has been welcomed by all of Turkey’s friends. It is the deep hope of all of us that these elections and the new constitution being prepared under your authority will mark another milestone in the development of democracy in Turkey.

The intention of your government to preserve Turkey’s ties with NATO and CENTO was also a source of great satisfaction to me and to all those associated with Turkey in these collective security organizations dedicated to the defense of the free world. My government looks forward to continuing cordial relations with Turkey in the tradition of friendship and cooperation that has always marked the relations of the Turkish and American people.

You have, Mr. President, my warmest wishes for success in realizing the high ideals to which you have dedicated your government, and in dealing with the problems now confronting it.

Sincerely,

Dwight D. Eisenhower

  1. Source: Eisenhower Library, Staff Secretary Records, International Series. No classification marking. In a June 10 memorandum attached to the source text, Herter told the President that the Turkish Government had requested the United States to “urgently issue a statement indicating our solidarity with Turkey.” Herter added: “According to the Foreign Minister, such a statement would be useful in dealing with Russian overtures to the new government, in maintaining the morale of the Turkish people, and in strengthening the position of the Foreign Minister himself via-à-vis the provisional Cabinet and the military group. I believe that it is in our interest to express at this time our confidence in the new Turkish Government, and that this could best be accomplished through a personal letter from you to the new Head of State in Turkey, General Gursel.”

    Eisenhower’s letter to Gursel was transmitted in telegram 3541 to Ankara, June 11. (Department of State, Central Files, 882.47411/6–1160)

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