Office of the Historian

305. Memorandum of Conversation1

SecDel/MC–16
New York, September 28, 1967, 4:15 p.m.

SECRETARY’S DELEGATION TO THE TWENTY-SECOND SESSION OF THE UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY

New York, September–October 1967

SUBJECT

  • Cyprus Problem (Part I of V)

PARTICIPANTS

  • US
    • The Secretary
    • Robert A. Stein, NEA Adviser
  • Cyprus
    • Foreign Minister Spyros Kyprianou
    • Ambassador Zenon Rossides, Permanent Representative to UN
    • Mr. Andreas Jacovides, Director of Political Division, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Nicosia

The Foreign Minister declared at the outset that the Cyprus problem, of course, was by far the major issue for them. He said that Cyprus was not surprised at the result of the Evros talks, because the Cypriots had always had reservations with regard to the Greek-Turkish dialogue. He said that now that the dialogue is ended Cyprus is considering what should be done next. He said that the situation in Cyprus is improved over what it was a year ago, and it is time to strengthen efforts for peace by finding another procedure to follow. Could common ground be found within a UN framework? He commented that the Cyprus Government is thinking in terms of “good offices”. Possibly something along this line might make it easier for the Greeks and the Turks. A vacuum may be dangerous, he said. We are in a period of reconsideration, and are ready to consider anything.

The Secretary said that he knew that U Thant was concerned about the cost of the UN force on Cyprus. He said that U Thant had mentioned it at his dinner for the Big Four Foreign Ministers but there was not much reaction from the Ministers. The Foreign Minister said that the annual cost is about $8 million.

The Secretary said that the US has no fresh ideas on the subject, and asked the Foreign Minister if the Cyprus Government is in a hurry for [Page 640] action. The Foreign Minister replied that there is no particular hurry, but the situation cannot continue on indefinitely. He observed that some procedure such as good offices would have a calming effect. He mentioned that the UN force on the island had a peacemaking as well as peacekeeping role. The Secretary asked if the presence of the force causes problems, and the Foreign Minister replied in the negative, saying that an absence of the force would, however.

The Secretary asked whether the Foreign Minister thought that a new procedure would lead quickly to a solution. Mr. Kyprianou did not think so, but he believed it would be helpful in eliminating impractical ideas. The Turks, for instance, are thinking of a condominium. In reply to a question the Foreign Minister said he believed there is a consensus among the people of the island for enosis. He thought the use of good offices would be a way of clarifying many of the issues involved. The Cyprus problem is affected by the situation in Greece, he said. With regard to the Turks, is it a problem for them of security or of the Turkish Cypriots? Do the Turks want partition? Under good offices this could all be discussed in a logical way.

The Secretary told the Foreign Minister that in his meeting yesterday with Turkish Foreign Minister Caglayangil2 the word Cyprus did not come up once. The Secretary added that it would be convenient if the US could take the same position the British did for three years back in the 40’s with regard to the Palestine question. Their position was that Britain would go along with anything the parties concerned decided.

The Secretary ascertained that the Foreign Minister had spoken to U Thant about the possibility of a new procedure being adopted. He said that U Thant would like to stop spending that $8 million a year, and he is certainly entitled to try to do so. The Secretary commented that there might be two or three procedures: to find a solution, to keep things in hand until a solution is found, or to keep things in hand without anything further in mind. He said he would talk with his colleagues in the Department on the subject of a new procedure.

  1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, POL 27 CYP. Confidential; Exdis. Drafted by Stein and approved in S on October 2. The meeting was held in the Secretary’s office in the U.S. Mission. Memoranda of other portions of this conversation dealing with trade with Cuba, the Middle East, U.S. facilities in Cyprus, and United Nations affairs are ibid., Conference Files: Lot 68 D 453, CF 216.↩
  2. Memoranda of Rusk’s conversations with Caglayangil are ibid.↩