Office of the Historian

780.00/9–1850

Memorandum Prepared in the Embassy in the United Kingdom1

London, September 19, 1950
[Extract]2
secret

Memorandum of Informal US–UK Discussion in Connection With the Visit to London of the Honorable George C. McGhee

Tuesday Afternoon, September 19, 1950

Topic for Discussion: GTI—Items 1 (except Iran) 2 and 3

Question of Security for Greece and Turkey (GTI—Item 1)

Sir Anthony3 raised the question of the Foreign Ministers’ refusal of the Turkish application for full membership within the Atlantic Pact. He questioned Turkish reaction to the offer to participate in the Mediterranean phases of military planning of the NATO which would consist largely of establishment of contact between the military leaders of the Atlantic Pact and the Turkish General Staff. Mr. McGhee said it had been left to the Secretary to pass this decision to the Turkish Government and that Mr. Acheson planned to explain that the Organization is not yet sufficiently enough advanced nor full enough in substance to expand its membership. Sir Anthony noted that Turkey has unwisely placed internal stress on being admitted as a full member and that the right to participate in military planning would probably not be deemed sufficient to counter any disappointment felt by the Turks. Mr. McGhee said that the US Government would like to see the Turks a member of the Atlantic Pact, but until we have assessed the magnitude of the existing situation and until the military strength has expanded sufficiently so that we can actually provide a force to assist the Turks, we are not ready to admits them to full membership. Sir Anthony noted that his Government had originally feared that if the Turks were admitted as full members, they would see how bare the cupboard actually is. However, if they are concerned only with planning in the Mediterranean, then our lack of strength will not have to be revealed in its entirety. Mr. Wright4 [Page 1317] noted that the British Government has existing treaty commitments with Turkey and that if an emergency should arise, his Government would surely intervene. Mr. McGhee agreed that if Turkey were to fall, then the whole of the Middle East would crumble; but he reiterated that at present we cannot commit ourselves further. He also noted that what we do for the Turks must also be done for the Greeks.

Mr. McGhee pointed out that military equipment is already being sent to Turkey in as vast quantities as the Turks are able to absorb; in addition, the situation in Korea has made us change our sights with respect to equipment for Turkey, Greece, and Iran, and the budget has been raised by an additional $193,000,000 for arms assistance.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . .

  1. The authorship and date of preparation of this memorandum are not indicated on the source text. It is one of a set of memoranda covering the various agenda items discussed by Mr. McGhee during his visit to London, September 16–23; regarding that visit, see the editorial note, p. 1550. Copies of this paper were sent to the Bureau of Near Eastern, South Asian, and African Affairs, as well as to the Embassies in Greece and Turkey.↩
  2. For the remainder of this memorandum, items 2 and 3 and discussion of Iran, with a list of participants, see p. 407.↩
  3. Sir Anthony Rumbold, Head, Southern Department, British Foreign Office.↩
  4. M. R. Wright, Assistant Under-Secretary of State, British Foreign Office.↩