Office of the Historian

867.00/12–1448: Telegram

The Acting Secretary of State to the Embassy in Turkey

secret
Washington, December 15, 1948—7 p. m.

589. Patsu 122. Re Ustap 150.1 $50,000,000 have been allocated Turkey from FY 49 funds (Patsu 1142). With Ambassador Grady’s concurrence, Dept recommended to Sec Def additional $25,000,000 be allocated, bringing total Turkish allocation FY 49 to $75,000,000. Prompt approval Sec Def anticipated.3

Dept and Army consider unnecessary any departure present policy of withholding info concerning division FY 49 Aid funds between Greece and Turkey, since such info might provide basis for comparison and comment producing an unfortunate reaction. Moreover, funds allocated Turkey but unobligated might have to be diverted to Greek program in unforeseen emergency. For these reasons Dept and Army prefer avoid specific statement re division Greek-Turkish funds.

Lovett
  1. Identified also as telegram 881, December 14, from Ankara, not printed.↩
  2. Identified also as telegram 519, October 25, to Ankara, not printed.↩
  3. Secretary Forrestal’s approval was given in his letter of December 23 to the Secretary of State (867.00/12–2348).↩