310. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in Cyprus1
70960. NATUS. Please deliver following message from President Johnson to President Makarios by fastest available means:
“Your Beatitude: Developments on and relating to the Island of Cyprus during the last few days have created a situation of utmost gravity. As I see it, the issue is war or peace and not the rights and wrongs of any specific problem. I appeal to you, as I am appealing to King Constantine and President Sunay,2 to do everything within the power of your Government to reduce the threat to peace now hanging over your region. In particular it seems to me that in this explosive situation the continuation of patrols in the areas of the current conflict is extremely dangerous, for peace in Cyprus and the eastern Mediterranean.3
Sincerely, Lyndon B. Johnson”
- Source: Department of State, Central Files, POL 27 CYP. Secret; Flash. Drafted by Howison; cleared by Battle, Rockwell, and Rostow; and approved by Rusk. Repeated to Ankara, Athens, London, USUN, the Mission to NATO, USCINCEUR, and USDOCOSouth.↩
- A similar message was transmitted to the Embassy in Ankara in telegram 70962, November 17, and to the Embassy in Athens in telegram 70961, November 17. (Both ibid.) King Constantine’s reply, pledging his efforts to ensure peace, was transmitted in telegram 2215 from Athens, November 18. (Ibid.) President Sunay’s reply, outlining the Turkish position including its fundamental demand for the withdrawal of Greek forces from Cyprus, was transmitted in telegram 2407 from Ankara, November 18. (Ibid.) See also Document 311.↩
- In telegram 650 from Nicosia, November 17, Belcher reported that he had delivered the President’s message and believed that Makarios would attempt to reduce tensions by calling off patrols by Greek Cypriot police. (Department of State, Central Files, POL 27 CYP)↩