740.5/9–2251: Telegram
The Acting Secretary of State to the Embassy in Turkey 1
priority
225. Re NY Times art Sept 22 stating Pres Truman has assigned Harriman and Bradley to prepare way for earliest inclusion Greece and Turkey in NATO and referring to their departure for Europe and Near East within ten days. Info along following lines being given for background and not for attribution in response to press inquiries: In the course of discussions of the North Atlantic Council in Ottawa it was suggested that the US, UK and France send military representatives to Turkey and Greece for preliminary discussions of their participation in the NATO (after ratification by the present members of their inclusion). The possibility of the US sending such a representative is now being considered and if one goes it will probably be General Bradley. There are no present plans for Mr. Harriman to go to Turkey or Greece.
- Message drafted by Moore. A marginal note reads: “Background statement cleared with: Defense—Col Newland, White House—Mr. Tubby, RA—Mr. Elbrick.” Repeated to the Embassies in Egypt, Greece, the United Kingdom, and France.↩