Turkey
114. Letter From Turkish Prime Minister Ecevit to President Carter
Source: Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Brzezinski Material, Brzezinski Office File, Country Chron File, Box 50, Turkey: 1978. Secret. The letter is attached as Tab A to an undated covering memorandum from Brzezinski to Carter. Brzezinski wrote, “This is clearly [Ecevit’s] response to the vote in the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on the embargo; that he is prepared to play the “Soviet Card” in a limited way at UNSSOD and the NATO Summit.” The SFRC voted 8–4 against lifting the embargo on May 11, following a vote on May 3 in the HIRC 18–17 to lift the embargo. The Department reported the SFRC vote in telegram 121040 to Ankara, May 12. (Department of State, Office of the Legal Adviser, Country Files (1940–1986), Lot 89D336, Box 4, Turkey 620 (x) Repeal) The Embassy reported the HIRC vote in telegram 3457 from Ankara, May 5. (National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, D780221–0457)
115. Telegram From the Embassy in Turkey to the Department of State
Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, D780206–0594. Confidential; Priority. Sent for information to Athens, Bonn, Copenhagen, London, Nicosia, USNATO, USUN, USNMR SHAPE, USDOCOSouth, USDOCOLANDSoutheast, USCINCEUR, Adana, Istanbul, and Izmir.
116. Memorandum of Conversation
Source: Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Staff Material, Horn/Special, Box 2, 5/78. Confidential. Drafted by Henze. The meeting took place in the Cabinet Room. Ecevit was in Washington to attend the NATO summit meeting May 30–31.
117. Memorandum of Conversation
Source: National Archives, RG 59, Office of Southern Europe, Records of Counselor Nimetz, 1977–1980, Lot 83D256, Box 1, POL 2 Cyprus 1977 and 1978. Confidential. Drafted by James F. Leonard (USUN) on June 5. The meeting took place in Ecevit’s suite at the UN Plaza Hotel. No time for the meeting, which lasted for approximately 2½ hours, is noted. Ecevit was in New York to attend the UN Special Session on Disarmament.
118. Memorandum of Conversation
Source: Washington National Records Center, OSD Files: FRC 330–81–0202, Box 69, Turkey 1978. Confidential. Drafted by Colonel Norman Walker. The meeting took place at the Turkish Embassy. In an attached note to Walker, dated June 7,Rear Admiral Thor Hanson reported that he approved the memorandum but had added “a couple small things.” The handwritten revisions have been silently incorporated into the text.
119. Memorandum From the Counselor of the Department of State (Nimetz) to Secretary of State Vance and the Deputy Secretary of State (Christopher)
Source: National Archives, RG 59, Office of Southern Europe, Records of Counselor Nimetz, 1977–1980, Lot 83D256, Box 1, POL 2 Cyprus 1977 and 1978. Confidential. Cleared by Ewing.
120. Memorandum From Acting Secretary of State Christopher to President Carter
Source: Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Brzezinski Material, Brzezinski Office File, Country Chron File, Box 50, Turkey, 1978. Confidential. Carter initialed “J” in the upper right-hand corner. In a July 21 covering memorandum to Carter, Brzezinski commented: “A matter of primary concern to members of Congress in deciding how to vote on lifting the Turkish embargo is whether lifting the embargo would result in practical advantages to the Turkish military.” In the upper right corner, Carter wrote, “Be careful on this—J.” (Ibid.)
122. Memorandum From Paul B. Henze of the National Security Council Staff to the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Brzezinski)
Source: Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Brzezinski Material, Country File, Box 75, Turkey: 8/78–3/79. Confidential. Sent for information.
123. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in Turkey
Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, D780398–0284. Confidential; Immediate; Exdis. Drafted by Ewing; cleared by Hopper, Arthur Houghton (S), and Thomas Reynders (S/S–O); approved by Vest. Sent for information Priority to Athens, Nicosia, USUN, USNATO, London, Paris, USNMR SHAPE, USDOCOSouth Naples, and USDELMC. Ökçün and Vance were in New York to attend the UN General Assembly meeting.
124. Action Memorandum From the Assistant Secretary of State for European Affairs (Vest) to the Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs (Newsom)
Source: Department of State, Office of the Legal Adviser, Country Files (1940–1986), Lot 89D336, Box 2, Turkey: DCA (ML). Confidential. The memorandum was sent through Nimetz. Drafted by George T. Churchill (PM/ISO) on November 2; cleared by Colonel Majors (OSD/ISA), Thomas G. Weston (H), Peter B. Swiers (EUR/RPM), Ted A. Borek (L/PM), James M. Flanagan (EUR/SE), Henze, Hopper, and Richard E. Curl (INR). Attached but not printed is the October 27 Memorandum of Law to commence base negotiations with Turkey.
125. Message From the Supreme Allied Commander Europe (Haig) to Secretary of State Vance
Source: Washington National Records Center, OSD Files: FRC 330–81–0202, Box 69, Turkey 1978. Secret; Eyes Only. Sent for information to JCS for Secretary Brown and General Jones; to [text not declassified] Ankara, [text not declassified] Athens, and [text not declassified] Belgium for the Ambassadors; and to USEUCOM for General Huyser (UNCINCEUR) and JLO Naples for Admiral Shear (USDOCOSouth).
126. Memorandum Prepared in the Central Intelligence Agency
Source: Central Intelligence Agency, Directorate of Intelligence, Job 80T00634A, Box 5. Secret. A note at the bottom of the page reads in part: “This memorandum was prepared by the Western Europe Division of the Office of Regional and Political Analysis and coordinated within CIA and DIA.” The memorandum was distributed widely throughout the U.S. Government, including to Denis Clift, George Vest, and Brigadier General James A. Williams, Director of the Defense Intelligence Agency.
127. Summary of Conclusions of a Policy Review Committee Meeting
Source: Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Brzezinski Material, Brzezinski Office File, Country Chron File, Box 51, Turkey: 1–4/79. Confidential. Drafted by Henze. In the upper right-hand corner, Carter wrote, “ok. J.C.” The meeting took place in the White House Situation Room. In a December 15 memorandum to Brzezinski, Henze wrote: “Turkey is the only corner of the ‘Crumbling Triangle’ which has not yet crumbled.” Referring to an attached paper he wrote, titled: “Is Turkey Susceptible to the Iranian Sickness?,” Henze suggested that it form the basis for an SCC review in early January. In an attached handwritten note, Brzezinski replied, “I like it. A good job.” He proposed instead a PRC meeting rather than an SCC meeting. (Carter Library, White House Central Files, Countries, Box CO–56, CO 163 1/20/77–1/20/81)
128. Memorandum Prepared in the Central Intelligence Agency
Source: Washington National Records Center, OSD Files: FRC 330–82–0205, Box 22, Turkey 1979. Secret; [handling restriction not declassified]. In a January 29 covering memorandum to Brown, Turner recalled that Brown had asked Turner to report on what the CIA was doing with regard to the insurgency in Turkey. (Ibid.) A note at the bottom of the page reads in part: “This memorandum was prepared by the Western Europe Division of the Office of Regional and Political Analysis and coordinated within CIA.”
129. Letter From Turkish Prime Minister Ecevit to President Carter
Source: Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Brzezinski Material, President’s Correspondence with Foreign Leaders File, Box 19, Turkey: Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit, 3/78–5/79. No classification marking. Attached but not printed is a January 19 covering letter transmitting the message from Esenbel to Vance.
130. Memorandum From Paul B. Henze of the National Security Council Staff to the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Brzezinski)
Source: Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Brzezinski Material, Country File, Box 75, Turkey: 8/78–3/79. Confidential. Sent for information. Copies were sent to Sick, Larrabee, Owen, Poats, Hunter, and Ermarth. A stamped notation at the top of the first page reads: “ZB has seen.”
131. Summary of Conclusions of a Policy Review Committee Meeting
Source: National Security Council, Carter Administration Intelligence Files, Box 20, PRC/I Minutes—1977–80. Confidential. Drafted by Henze. The meeting took place in the White House Situation Room.
132. Memorandum From Paul B. Henze of the National Security Council Staff to the President’s Deputy Assistant for National Security Affairs (Aaron)
Source: Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Brzezinski Material, Country File, Box 75, Turkey: 8/78–3/79. Secret. Sent for information. Next to Henze’s initials at the top of the page, Aaron wrote, “Good Memo.” Copies were sent to Quandt, Sick, Hoskinson, Funk, and Ermarth.
133. Telegram From the Embassy in Turkey to the Department of State
Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, D790170–0657. Secret; Immediate; Exdis.
134. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in Turkey
Source: Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Brzezinski Material, Cables File, Box 116, 4/14–30/79. Secret; Sensitive; Immediate; Nodis.
135. Letter From Turkish Prime Minister Ecevit to President Carter
Source: Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Brzezinski Material, Brzezinski Office File, Country Chron File, Box 51, Turkey: 1–4/79. Secret; Nodis. In an April 23 covering memorandum to Brzezinski, Henze summarized the letter as follows: “What [Ecevit] says, in essence, is that Turkey is agreeable to them [overflights] if we and the Soviets together agree that they are okay and, presumably, if we guarantee Turkey against any retribution from the Soviets for cooperating.” Henze also noted that the situation could effectively subordinate Turkish sovereignty, and he wondered if there was a precedent for this with regard to NATO, and, moreover, if acceding to Carter’s request for overflights was politically tenable in Turkey. (Ibid.)
136. Memorandum From Henry Owen of the National Security Council Staff to President Carter
Source: Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Brzezinski Material, Country File, Box 75, Turkey: 4–8/79. Confidential. Sent for information. Carter and Brzezinski each initialed in the top right-hand corner.
137. Telegram From the Embassy in Turkey to the Department of State
Source: National Archives, RG 59, Office of the Secretariat Staff, Mr. Leslie H. Gelb, Director, Bureau of Politico-Military Affairs, Lot 81D101, Box 4, Turkey. Secret; Immediate; Nodis.
138. Telegram From the Embassy in Turkey to the Department of State
Source: Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Brzezinski Material, Country File, Box 75, Turkey: 4–8/79. Secret; Niact Immediate; Nodis. Printed from a copy that indicates the original was received in the White House Situation Room. Henze forwarded the telegram to Brzezinski with a May 9 memorandum commenting on the Christopher mission: “It is primarily on the basis of this cable that I conclude that the talks did not really go very well. Our problems with Ecevit and the Turkish government are at least as great as I have been emphasizing all along. And the rather flaccid optimism we have been getting from State on these issues is hard to maintain.” (Ibid.)
139. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in Turkey
Source: Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Brzezinski Material, Cables File, Box 116, 5/10–31/79. Secret; Cherokee; Niact Immediate; Nodis. Printed from a copy that indicates the original was received in the White House Situation Room.
140. Intelligence Assessment Prepared in the Central Intelligence Agency
Source: Central Intelligence Agency, Directorate of Intelligence, Job 80T00942A, Box 10, Turkey: Ecevit Government in Crisis, Secret/Copies 263, 24. Secret; [handling restriction not declassified]. A note on the title page reads: “This report was prepared by the Western Europe Division of the Office of Political Analysis. It has been coordinated with the Office of Economic Research, the Office of Strategic Research, the Directorate of Operations and the National Intelligence Offices for Western Europe.”
141. Telegram From Secretary of State Vance to the Department of State
Source: Department of State, Office of the Secretariat Staff, Cyrus R. Vance, Secretary of State—1977–1980, Lot 84D241, Box 9, Vance NODIS MemCons, 1979. Secret; Immediate; Exdis. Sent for information to Ankara, Athens, Nicosia, USNATO, and USNMR SHAPE. In a May 31 covering memorandum to Jack Perry (S/S), Art Hughes (S/S–S) noted that Vance had agreed to the following “action commitments:” 1) “give impetus to preparation of comments on Turkey DCA drafts;” 2) “keep in touch with McNamara of World Bank regarding Bank’s cooperation on Turkish economic problems.” (Ibid.) Vance was in Madrid June 1–2 for a meeting of the U.S.-Spanish Council after leaving the Hague where he attended the NATO Ministerial meeting May 29–31.
142. Telegram From the Embassy in Turkey to the Department of State
Source: Department of State, INR/IL Historical Files, Box 10, Ankara. Secret; Immediate; Roger Channel. Sent for information to Adana, Istanbul, and Izmir.
143. Telegram From the Embassy in Turkey to the Department of State
Source: National Security Council, Carter Intelligence Files, Box 27, Turkey, 3 Apr 1979–19 Sep 1979. Secret; Cherokee; Immediate; Nodis. Printed from a copy that indicates the original was received in the White House Situation Room. Henze forwarded the telegram to Brzezinski with a September 19 memorandum that commented on the U–2 issue: “The Turkish answer confronts us with the same issue we faced originally—if the Soviets really want SALT II and want to help us get it ratified by agreeing to adequate verification arrangements—then why do they work to intimidate the Turks so as to prevent them from cooperating with us? This is evidence of severe bad faith. If we go on ignoring this, we become parties to a deception—and hostage to the Soviets’ own manipulation of one of our major allies.” (Ibid.)