868.20 Mission/10–1248
Memorandum by Mr. Charles E. Saltzman, State Member of the State–Army–Navy–Air Force Coordinating Committee, to the Executive Secretary of the Committee 1
SANACC 358/7
Subject: Decision on Long-Range U.S. Military Interests in Greece and Turkey
The Department of State considers it urgently necessary to formulate policy determining long-range U.S. strategic interests, if any, in the military establishments of Greece and/or Turkey. It is recommended that SANACC submit proposals to the National Security Council for decision as to whether, on strategic grounds, any assistance to those countries in the form of U.S. military equipment and/or advisory personnel is justified, in addition to and/or for a longer period of time than the assistance being provided under present policies.
Present U.S. policy toward military assistance to Greece and Turkey is embodied in President Truman’s message to Congress of March 12, 1947 and in subsequent testimony before Congress. It is being implemented on the basis of Public Law 75 and Title III of Public Law 472, 80th Congress. This policy calls for support of the Greek military establishment to the extent required to achieve internal security in Greece and, concurrently, limited military assistance to Turkey which will contribute toward modernization of the Turkish armed forces without undue strain on Turkish resources, release of [Page 159] manpower for productive work, and increased Turkish confidence in her ability to resist Soviet pressure. Although Secretary Marshall stated in testimony before Congress requesting additional appropriations for fiscal year 1949 that no assurance could be given that the above objectives could be achieved in any given period of time, appropriations have been requested only on a year-to-year basis.
Under present policies it is the U.S. objective that the Greek military establishment be reduced, as quickly as the internal security situation will permit, to a size which will allow its support from Greek resources. Since Greece is expected to continue to have a deficit in her international balance of payments for an indefinite period, external military costs, even if not from Greek earnings, will serve to increase this deficit. However, this is a factor which can be taken into consideration in future allocation of ERP funds to Greece as in the case of other ERP countries. Coincident with a decrease in or elimination of direct military assistance to Greece, military assistance to Turkey will be reduced to minor proportions or eliminated.
U.S. funds for military assistance to Greece and Turkey under present policies will be exhausted at the end of the current fiscal year unless new requests are made of Congress. The principal considerations affecting any decision with respect to termination or decrease in rate of military support under present policies, are to insure that such action does not seriously weaken the ability of these countries to maintain their internal security against communist threats, and does not destroy hope of active U.S. support in the event of aggression.
Prior to approaching the Greek Government with respect to any reduction in the size or cost of her military forces, which might be justified by the favorable outcome of the guerrilla war, it is believed that a thorough review should be made of United States policy to determine whether or not there is, on strategic grounds, a basis for any longer range U.S. interest in the military establishments of Greece and/or Turkey. The formulation of long-range policy with respect to both Greece and Turkey is also desirable in order that both the present and any future aid programs based on present policies be integrated insofar as possible with overall U.S. strategic objectives.
It is requested, therefore, that the Joint Chiefs of Staff be requested as a matter of urgency for a definition of any long-range U.S. strategic interests in the military establishments of Greece and/or Turkey which would under present conditions justify assistance to those countries in the form of U.S. military assistance in addition to and/or for a longer period than the assistance being provided under present policies. There is involved of course the question of priority of such assistance in comparison with other strategic demands, relationship to U.S. policies with respect to the so-called “Western [Page 160] Union” countries, any “Eastern Mediterranean Bloc” which may develop, possible plans for defense of the Persian Gulf oil area, and policies of the United Kingdom.
It is requested that, upon receipt of the views of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the appropriate Subcommittees of SANACC prepare a policy paper for the full Committee.
It is further requested that SANACC submit this paper to the National Security Council for approval.
- Referred to the Joint Chiefs of Staff for comment in a memorandum (SANA–6265) of October 15 by the Secretary of SANACC (SWNCC Files, Lot 52–M45).↩