Office of the Historian

780.5/11–2451: Telegram

The Acting Secretary of State to the Embassy in Turkey 1

confidential
Washington, November 24, 1951—9 p. m.

459. Re Sov notes US, UK, Fr, Turkey Nov 24 protesting against initiation MEC as subordination countries concerned to aggressive NATO (Moscow’s tel 898, Nov. 24)2 we anticipate inevitable some days elapse before formal reply can be concerted four Govts and in order avoid giving Sov charges unopposed propaganda field that period contemplate release promptly when Sovs publish their notes interim statement fol line.

1.
Confirm receipt Sov notes.
2.
MEC like NATO is proposed as defensive arrangement accordance UN charter necessitated by Sov aggressive hostility.
3.
US Govt will concert with other Govts to determine action to be taken on Sov notes.

Pls inform Br, Fr, Turks accordingly.3

Webb
  1. Drafted and signed for the Acting Secretary by Walworth Barbour of EE. Cleared by NEA and RA. Sent also to Paris and London, repeated to Moscow and Rome.↩
  2. Not printed; see editorial note, supra.↩
  3. Between November 27 and December 13, the four governments exchanged a number of draft proposals and notes in reply to the Soviet message of November 24. Documentation on these notes and proposals is in Department of State file 780.5.↩