Office of the Historian

254. Telegram From the Embassy in the United Kingdom to the Department of State1

London, August 1, 1957—7 p.m.

867. Following is excerpt pertaining Cyprus from memorandum of conversation prepared by Secretary of meeting with Prime Minister, Selwyn Lloyd and Ambassador evening July 31.

“Cyprus. Lloyd referred to his plan for a conference of UK-Greece-Turkey with Spaak and the US as observers. I said I did not [Page 490] see how we could wisely act as observers. We had no status, no responsibility and no authority. This was different from Spaak, who as Secretary General of NATO had a responsibility to deal with quarrels between NATO countries. I said we might urge the Greeks to attend but only if we were absolutely convinced that there was no side deal between the UK and the Turks and no private understanding expressed or implied. Both Macmillan and Lloyd assured me with the greatest solemnity that they would go into the conference with a completely open mind and without a commitment of any sort to the Turks. I said under these circumstances we would probably indicate to the Greeks our view that they ought to attend particularly if Spaak was going to be there as apparently he would be. Lloyd asked whether they could tell the Greeks that we had been invited. I said if he thought that served their purpose I saw no objection to it. I said that as Lloyd had suggested earlier in the day2 we might be willing to have present at the Embassy someone who is particularly familiar with Cyprus matters so that the Embassy would be in a position to take an intelligent interest in what was going on, and there could possibly be consultations outside of the conference if this seemed appropriate.

“Macmillan and Lloyd expressed regret but without any evidence of surprise that we would not actually be in the conference and said they would appreciate our help otherwise. I expressed skepticism of the possibility under the best of circumstances of getting the Greeks to attend. Lloyd reaffirmed that their only purpose was really to get a solution and they had an open mind as to any solution.”

Today Selwyn Lloyd sent note to Secretary3 urgently raising following problem: UK plans formally to propose conference to Greece and Turkey as soon as possible not later than afternoon August 2 or morning August 3, since longer delay increases risk news may reach Greek government from other quarter and Athens may reject proposal out of hand. Selwyn Lloyd stated that if this representation is to succeed, “it is vital that the United States Ambassador in Athens should be able to indicate to the Greeks, without delay, that the United States Government are in favor of the British proposal … ”4 He added that an indication US planning make arrangements keep closely informed of proceedings of conference would also be helpful. He concluded with pleas that such instructions be sent American Ambassador on August 2 if practicable. In view tenor of conversation quoted above and in line suggested [Page 491] course of action para 7(a) Deptel Tosec 7,5 Embassy recommends that Department instruct US Ambassadors Athens Ankara to state our general support proposed conference, say proposal appears be serious attempt by UK reach settlement problem, recommend careful consideration proposal and emphasize need for secrecy.6

Embassy suggests final decision whether US participate in conference be meanwhile deferred, presumably pending Secretary’s return.

Secretary has seen this telegram and agrees to above recommendations.

Please repeat this message as desired.

Whitney
  1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 747C.00/8–157. Secret; Niact. Limited Distribution.↩
  2. According to Dulles’ appointment calendar, the Secretary met with Lloyd at the Foreign Office at 10:30 a.m. No record of that conversation has been found in Department of State files.↩
  3. Lloyd’s note to Dulles, dated August 1, was attached to a note from Robert A. McKinnon of the Executive Secretariat to Monteagle Stearns of the Bureau of Near Eastern, South Asian, and African Affairs, on August 5. A notation on the note by Wood indicates that notice of receipt was given orally to Charles Wiggin of the British Embassy. (Department of State, Central Files, 747C.00/8–557)↩
  4. Ellipsis in the source text.↩
  5. Document 251.↩
  6. During an August 6 meeting among Dulles, Rountree, and Minister of the British Embassy Coulson, the Secretary noted that he doubted whether it would be useful or advisable for the United States to attend the proposed conference. Dulles added that his reservations stemmed from the fact that the United States had no authority or responsibility and no new ideas to propose on the Cyprus matter. (Department of State, Central Files, 747C.00/8–657)

    Dulles later instructed the Embassies at Athens, Ankara, and London to inform the governments concerned that if all the parties agreed, the United States would send an observer “without prior commitment for or against any particular proposal.” (Telegram 465 to Athens, August 7; ibid., 747C.00/8–757)

    In an August 10 message to Dulles, Lloyd expressed his appreciation to the Secretary for this decision. The text of Lloyd’s message was transmitted in circular telegram 129, August 12. (Ibid., 747C.00/8–1257)

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