189. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in Greece1
1342. We believe that efforts you have made so far to bring more reality to Greek consideration of possible elements of Cyprus solution should be accelerated.
One of points toward which GOG exhibits less comprehension, particularly since submission Plaza report, is unattainability of enosis without compensation to Turkey. This applies whether enosis sought in immediate future or over years as reportedly under consideration by Clerides.
Suggest you use occasion of your farewell talks with King, Papandreou, Costopoulos and others to help Greeks clarify in their own mind:
- (1)
- Enosis cannot be achieved without compensation;
- (2)
- If Greeks attempt enosis without prior arrangement with Turkey, there will be violent action by Turks. They have made this clear in public and private statements;
- (3)
- Western alliance cannot be expected impose enosis or restrain Turk action while instant enosis attempted. Both Greece and Turkey are important to Western alliance and we could not (even if capable of doing so) try to help bring about enosis at expense of a frustrated Turkey who would surely then follow neutralist policies.
It seems to us that more realistic consideration by Greeks of above points would help Costopoulos in proposed initial talks with Isik on occasion NATO Ministerial, which we certainly hope will not be sabotaged by reported GOT actions against Istanbul Greeks.2
- Source: Department of State, Central Files, POL 27 CYP. Secret; Limdis. Drafted by Bracken, cleared by EUR and Jernegan, and approved by Ball. Repeated to Ankara, London, USUN, Nicosia, and Paris for USRO.↩
- In telegram 1664 from Athens, May 7, Labouisse reported that he had made the points outlined in this telegram in calls on the King, Queen Frederika, Stephanopoulos, Costopoulos, Garoufalias, and Kanellopoulos. (Ibid.) The Ambassador left post on May 8.↩