Foreign Relations of the United States, 1958–1960, Eastern Europe; Finland; Greece; Turkey, Volume X, Part 2

380. Telegram From the Embassy in France to the Department of State⁰

Paris, October 31, 1960, 8 p.m.

1715. Eyes only for Secretary. Ankara eyes only for Ambassador. From Thurston. At end of conversation with Gursel reported Embtel 1714,¹ General Norstad on his own initiative raised question of current trials against former Government leaders.² He said he was going to presume on his friendly relationship with Gursel and that he was going to talk as one soldier to another, frankly, undiplomatically, and even bluntly. During his travels in the NATO world in the last six months, Norstad continued, he had been impressed by the fact that the eyes of the world were on Turkey. He had been impressed with the support and good wishes that all allies of Turkey were ready to give and with their disposition to help in every possible way as they followed the course of reforms and constitutional development on which the new regime was working. In the same family spirit the allies of Turkey were following the current trials. It is hope and prayer of all friends of Turkey and her NATO Allies that in this particular crisis Turkey will show “restraint, generosity and wisdom”. Norstad concluded by asserting that what Turkey does now at the conclusion of these trials can advance the standing of Turkey as a nation in the family of nations “by at least a generation”.

Gursel did not appear to be offended by the foregoing remarks. He commented simply that “we shall do our best” and that “we know you are our friends and have our interest at heart”.

In later discussion with Sarper, latter told Norstad that he had not “lost any capital” by making this plea. Norstad told Sarper that he was not exaggerating the foreign reaction to the trials and also that this reaction was not merely based on personal feelings towards this or that member of the old government. Sarper reacted somewhat sharply, stating crimes had been committed against Turkish people and not against foreigners. Norstad replied that basic criterion should be what course of action will advance the cause of Turkey. Drawing upon his conversation of the day before with the King and Queen of Greece (but not mentioning them), Norstad pointed out that though trials had led to revelations of anti-Greek activities of former Turkish Government, he had found in talking with Greeks that they nevertheless hoped that trials would not lead to extreme sentences.³

Houghton

0. Source: Department of State, S/S Eyes Only Microfilm, Eyes Only Telegrams To and From the Department of State. Top Secret. Repeated to Ankara.
1. Telegram 1714, October 3, reported that Gursel had explained his government’s educational reforms and had assured Norstad of Turkey’s loyalty to its Western allies. (Ibid., Central Files, 033.5182/10–3160)
2. The trials of approximately 600 former ministers and leaders of the Democratic Party began on the island of Yassiada on October 14.
3. The trials at Yassiada continued until September 15, 1961, when the court handed down 15 death sentences, 31 sentences of life imprisonment, and 418 lesser sentences. All of the death sentences were commuted except those of Menderes, Zorlu, and Polatkan. Zorlu and Polatkan were hanged on September 16, 1961; Menderes on September 17.