150. Summary Notes of the 542d Meeting of the National Security Council1
Global Briefing-Cyprus
[Here follows McCone’s briefing.]
Under Secretary Ball: With respect to Cyprus, the Geneva phase of the negotiations is over. Two months have been spent in narrowing the gap between the Greeks and the Turks and defining their differences. There are two reasons for the failure of the Acheson talks at Geneva:
- 1.
- The weakness of the Greek Government which was unwilling to move in and take over in Cyprus, and
- 2.
- The Turks’ insistence on having a sovereign base on the island, which in effect, meant partition. The Greeks insisted on leasing an area to the Turks; hence, Enosis.
We should not despair of a Greek reply to President Johnson’s letter2 which may indicate the Greeks are prepared to give way, thus permitting continuation of bargaining.
The UN Secretary General’s press conference was not helpful in that he said that the Cyprus Government had to be a party to any deal between Greece and Turkey.
There are two timebombs in the situation:
- 1.
- The rotation of Turkish troops on the island which will take place within the next few days.
- 2.
- The cessation of the rights of 10,000 Greeks living in Turkey, which will undoubtedly cause trouble.
A Tamaya report on Cyprus is impartial and gives a true picture of the situation. It cites the heavy pressure of Greek Cypriots on the Turkish Cypriots.
[Here follows Secretary Rusk’s briefing.]
- Source: Johnson Library, National Security File, NSC Meetings File, Vol. 3. Top Secret/Sensitive; For the President Only. Drafted by Smith.↩
- King Constantine’s September 3 reply to the President’s August 28 message stated that Greece could not accept the Acheson proposals. (Ibid., Country File, Greece, Presidential Correspondence)↩