Foreign Relations of the United States, 1955–1957, Soviet Union, Eastern Mediterranean, Volume XXIV

364. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in France¹

Washington, September 17, 1957—6:15 p.m.

Topol 723. You should convey following information to Spaak, stressing matter obviously one requiring exceptional secrecy. You should not take initiative in proposing private session of NAC but you should leave it to Spaak to decide whether he considers matter warrants such special restricted meeting for purpose of imparting information to Perm Reps.

US takes very serious view situation in Middle East arising out of developments in Syria. We judge that Syria has become or is about to become base for military and subversive activities in ME .… We understand that this same view is taken by Governments of all five nations bordering on Syria. Latter are deeply concerned over threat to their security represented by impetuous pro-Soviet Syrian regime. Hostile and provocative attitude toward its neighbors adopted by Syrian Government, together with close connection of latter with Government of USSR, reinforces their fear. Already subversive agents carrying explosives have been infiltrated into the Lebanese territory from Syria.

This situation seems to carry a special threat to Turkey against which Turkey has taken certain defensive military precautions. The Soviet Union seems however to treat this as a threat against itself and has itself publicly threatened Turkey suggesting that it will mass troops on the Turkish border.

Foreign Minister Gromyko’s statement of September 10² indicates a reversion to the old measures of attempting to terrorize nations of free world and break down their will to defend their independence and sovereignty. Reinstitution of this policy takes on new meaning when one considers that impetuous … Khrushchev is now in control of Soviet Government, there having been removed from authority individuals who, while pursuing same Soviet objectives as Khrushchev, were cool and calculating and fully aware of risks involved.

US has informed Turkey that in the event the latter is attacked by Sino-Soviet bloc US will come to its assistance with armed force. In addition US has decided that in event of need US would immediately reactivate MEEOC to meet effects of any interruption of flow of oil to free world markets which might result from closure of trans-Syrian pipelines or Suez Canal.

US will continue to deploy Sixth Fleet in eastern Mediterranean.³

Murphy

1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 782.54/9–1757. Top Secret; Priority; Limit Distribution. Drafted by Rockwell, Dulles, and Elbrick.
2. For text of Gromyko’s statement, see AFP: Current Documents, 1957, pp. 1038–1039.
3. In Polto 662, September 20, Frederick Nolting, Minister Counselor at Paris, informed the Department that he had conveyed the substance of this telegram to Spaak. Nolting reported that Spaak believed it unlikely that the Soviet Union “would push its policy” in Syria or anywhere else in the Middle Eastern area to the extent of provoking a war. (Department of State, Central Files, 782.54/9–2057)