375. Telegram From the Embassy in Turkey to the Department of State 0
736. Paris for USRO and Stoessel. Deptel 501.1 Saw Inonu this morning and, with Sarper translating, gave him carefully prepared statement on military and economic assistance based on guidance from Department supplemented by locally generated information and argument. Spoke from “talking paper”, leaving copy for subsequent reference on understanding it not to be considered formal document but rather informal presentation subject to further explanation or elaboration as required. This deemed essential in view complexity of problem and difficulty otherwise of having anything approaching accurate record of what said.
Inonu was very tentative throughout and frequently asked questions indicating he not only interested but had much better grasp of subject than at our first meeting.2 Somewhat unexpectedly, he was especially responsive to those parts of presentation emphasizing planning and self-help. He also seemed accept without question limitations under which we work in assistance field and to appreciate suggestions made to invigorate assistance program within our capabilities.
At conclusion of presentation he made these observations.
Firstly, he expressed appreciation for our effort to clarify aid situation. Said he now had some understanding of complexity of assistance processes and believed our presentation would be useful guide. He would turn it over to officials concerned with aid for study and necessary action.
Secondly, he said he was still troubled regarding military situation. If by misfortune war should come, result could be quick and decisive. That meant advance preparedness at necessary level to meet responsibility. But war now extremely expensive and difficult see how Turkey can continue burden, even with present level assistance of US. While emphasizing his preoccupation with this subject he also indicated that his ideas not yet thought through but he said would want discuss again since he very troubled.
Thirdly, he said wished make clear that Turkey, while wishing avoid needless provocation of Soviets, is firm adherent of Western bloc [Page 721] and will not change. At present time, Soviets conducting “aggressive peace offensive” which will foreseeably fail and be followed by concerted campaign of abuse by Soviets and their satellites but Turkey is used to such tactics and will know how to maintain its position in the future as it has in the past. In this connection, he gave summary his conversation with Soviet Ambassador Rijov which corresponded exactly with Sarper version as reported Embtel 731.3
At conclusion, I mentioned recent spate of pernicious press articles on US aid, saying I had kept silent so far but would suggest might be counteracted by taking line that situation with regard aid good and merely question trying make it better as contrasted press tendency to discuss in terms of rectifying intolerable situation. Inonu agreed and asked which of us should take initiative. I suggested both of us and he acquiesced.
Although nature of our response was in quite different vein from that of Inonu’s original request for large lump sums for supplemental assistance he not only refrained from pressing his original demands but actually seemed be appreciative of lengths to which we had gone in trying understand his problem and in taking action or making suggestions to assist. It is, of course, to be expected that development of specific points will involve tough bargaining later and that further demands will be made but would seem that we may have at least gotten Inonu back on track and in surprisingly good spirit.
- Source: Department of State, Central Files, 782.5/1–362. Secret. Repeated to Paris and Izmir.↩
- Telegram 501, December 21, 1961, provided the Embassy with specific guidance on military and economic policy regarding Turkey. (Ibid., 782.5/12–1361)↩
- See footnote 1, Document 374.↩
- Telegram 731, January 3, reported on Rijov’s efforts to pressure Turkey into abandoning its alliance with the United States. (Department of State, Central Files, 661.82/1–362)↩