Foreign Relations of the United States, 1961–1963, Volume XVI, Eastern Europe; Cyprus; Greece; Turkey

303. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in Turkey⁰

Washington, December 24, 1963, 10:51 a.m.

548. Paris pass Burns and James. Rome for Burris. For Ambassadors. Ankara 766 to Department, repeated Athens 73, London 129, Nicosia 74.¹

1. Check immediately with UK Ambassador who should by now have received detailed HMG proposal including tripartite appeal GOC and community leaders and offer good offices.

2. Inform Erkin USG and UK have quite different reading from that of GOT on events in Cyprus. We believe hostilities not planned by either side, that leadership both communities making genuine effort halt fighting, and that armed underground organizations both communities are out of control. Extremists on both sides accuse leadership of other side of plotting attacks.

3. Inform Erkin USG as sincere friend Turkey and of people both communities on Cyprus urges GOT to contribute to calm on island and consult with other guarantor powers. With permission UK Ambassador you may state HMG even now ready present urgent action plan, and that Duncan Sandys will arrive Nicosia in few hours.

4. Responsible leadership both communities even now making desperate efforts stop fighting. GOT should act to help this leadership through exercise of its own high sense of responsibility to re-establish peace and order.

5. All addressees support new British diplomatic initiative as you deem most effective.

Rusk

0. Source: Department of State, Central Files, POL 25 Cyp. Secret; Immediate. Drafted by Bowling, cleared in G, and approved by Talbot. Repeated to Athens, London, Nicosia, Paris Topol, Rome, and USCINCEUR.
1. Telegram 766 from Ankara, December 24, reported on Hare’s meeting with Erkin during which Erkin stated that Inonu demanded that attacks on Turk Cypriots cease and held Makarios responsible for the violence. Erkin also stated that Turkey resented U.S. efforts to restrain it from the use of force. (Ibid.)