Office of the Historian

306. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in Cyprus0

Washington, December 25, 1963, 10:15 a.m.

258. Paris pass Burns and James. Rome for Burris. For Ambassadors.

UK has, according US Embassy London, called in Greek and Turk Ambs London and proposed joint military intervention Cyprus soonest, conditional on invitation from Makarios. Intervention would be under UK command and at least at first be confined to military units now on island. [2 lines of source text not declassified]

Embassies Athens and Ankara authorized provide full support to British initiative, after consultation UK colleagues re tactics.

Embassy Nicosia authorized cooperate fullest extent in persuading Makarios issue invitation, but should consult with UK re timing, which apparently will depend on speed of GOT and GOG acceptance UK proposal.

Rusk
  1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, POL 25 Cyp. Confidential; Immediate. Drafted by Bowling and cleared by Johnson and Talbot. Also sent to Ankara and Athens and repeated to Rome, London, Paris Topol, and USCINCEUR.↩