Foreign Relations of the United States, 1958–1960, Volume X, Part 1, Eastern Europe Region; Soviet Union; Cyprus

282. Telegram From the Embassy in Greece to the Department of State⁰

Athens, October 25, 1958, 6 p.m.

1060. Embtel 1040.¹

1. Permanent Under-Secretary of Foreign Office asked me to call urgently this afternoon to communicate following at request of Foreign Minister re Cyprus Conference.

2. GOG has now formally decided to reject Conference on basis proposed and its NATO representative will be so instructed. Expected that Greek statement will be made next NATO meeting on October 27 or 28.

GOG has been brought to this conclusion as it is now convinced Conference is certain to fail because of UK and Turkish attitude toward Greek proposals for final solution of Cyprus problem. This is manifest from many indications including Lennox-Boyd speech² and Turk reaction to Sulzberger article in New York Times re outline for settlement under NATO aegis.³ Skeferis said NATO would surely suffer if Conference were held and failed and GOG did not wish to put further strain on alliance ties.

3. I then reviewed situation in Paris as I understood it and pointed out flexibility seemed to exist respecting composition of conference. I emphasized Spaak draft letter⁴ clearly provided for discussion of final solution and remarked that Greek attitude would be hard to defend amongst Allies when we seemed to be approaching conference on basis requested by GOG. Therefore it was difficult to understand Greek decision to reject conference at this point and this would in my opinion create impression of intransigence. Skeferis contented himself in replying that failure of conference, which was now certain, would be worse. In thanking US for its efforts, he hoped we would use our great influence in preparing NATO communique to prevent blame being cast on GOG for breakdown of negotiations. He recalled that situation in Greece re attitude toward NATO had much improved in recent weeks and GOG was desirous of preventing any recrudescence of anti-NATO feeling. I [1–1/2 lines of source text not declassified] replied I would convey his remarks to Department, expressing hope simultaneously alliance would not be subjected to further strains as result of this decision.

[1 paragraph (3–1/2 lines of source text) not declassified]

Riddleberger

0. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 747C.00/10–2558. Secret; Niact. Also sent to USUN and repeated to Paris for USRO, London, Ankara, and Nicosia.
1. Telegram 1040 from Athens, October 23, reported that the Greek Government was reluctant to participate in a conference on Cyprus due to its fear that it would be forced to accept British proposals for the island’s future while any discussions or decisions on the ultimate fate of Cyprus would be avoided. (Ibid., 747C.00/10–2358)
2. In a speech at Blackpool on October 9, the Colonial Secretary referred to Cyprus as “an offshore island of Turkey.”
3. The New York Times, October 22, 1958.
4. The revised terms of reference proposed by Spaak on September 30 were to be sent in a letter to governments participating in the proposed conference on Cyprus.