Office of the Historian

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

Athens, March 26, 1959, 10 p.m.

2193. Embassy telegram 2174.1 In interview today on aid questions with Prime Minister separately reported,2 he touched briefly on Cyprus. Underlining political risks and sacrifices which he had assumed in agreeing to settlement he repeated GOG determination to make settlement work and bespoke our influence to that end. He recalled powers given to Vice President3 were most extensive and unless carefully utilized could disrupt possibilities of pacification and general acceptance by Cypriots. He was personally encouraged by attitude of GOT and he hoped to cement this progress in forthcoming visit to Ankara. However, there were some indications of Turkish Cypriot intention to make demands which would not be accepted by predominantly Greek population and he hoped we would use our great influence toward moderation. Prime Minister would not be drawn into giving anything specific but on deduction he might be referring to aid to Turkish Cypriots through GOT, I remarked I was confident US which had taken no decision on aid to Cyprus would certainly consider most [Page 782] carefully all complications of any aid problems before making decisions. I said that I was further confident that both UK and Turkey wanted to see agreements work and that with good will on all sides it could be done. Prime Minister did not mention NATO membership for Cyprus.

Riddleberger
  1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 747C.00/3–2659. Secret; Limit Distribution; Noforn. Repeated to Ankara, Paris for USRO, London, and Nicosia.↩
  2. In telegram 2174 from Athens, March 24, Riddleberger reported on a March 23 conversation with Averoff in which Averoff expressed optimism over the progress of the Cyprus settlement. (Ibid., 747C.00/3–2459)↩
  3. Riddleberger reported on his discussion with Karamanlis in telegram 2192 from Athens, March 26. (Ibid., 747C.00/3–2659)↩
  4. The powers of the Vice President were outlined in the document on the basic structure of the Republic of Cyprus, signed on February 19; see Document 311.↩