Document IV-131

The Acheson Mission to Geneva-Recess of Greek-Turkish Discussions Without Resolution of the Cyprus Problem: STATEMENT AND REPLIES MADE BY THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF THE OFFICE OF NEWS (MCCLOSKEY), DEPARTMENT OF STATE, TO QUESTIONS ASKED AT A NEWS CONFERENCE, AUGUST 31, 1964 (EXCERPTS) $2

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Mr. Dean Acheson is returning to Washington Friday for consultations with the President and the Secretary of State. While in Washington, he will review the discussions he has been having in Geneva on the Cyprus problem. He will also explore with the President and the Secretary of State what further help the United States might extend in resolving this problem.

As a result of the talks in Geneva under the auspices of the U.N. Mediator," both Greece and Turkey have made substantial progress toward an agreed solution of the Cyprus problem and have narrowed the gap considerably, that is, the gap which separated their positions. It has not yet, however, been possible to find a common solution acceptable to both Governments. Negotiations, therefore, are continuing.

They[-Mr. Acheson's discussions-] were with the U.N. Mediator, Representatives of the Turkish Government and the Greek Government. If the Cypriots had any one there they did not have Representatives of the Greek and Turkish communities on Cyprus.

I think he was active in the discussions, both with the individual representatives of Turkey and Greece and in turn with the U.N. Mediator.

Well, this would certainly be our understanding [-that GreekTurkish negotiations are continuing-]. It will continue by diplo

Department of State files.

Mr. Acheson served as personal envoy of the President to the Geneva conference to mediate the dispute between Greece and Turkey over Cyprus. He visited Geneva, July 5-Sept. 2, London, Sept. 2-4, and returned to Washington, Sept. 4, 1964. Mr. Acheson did not return to Geneva. President Johnson saw Dean Acheson on Sept. 8. For a comment by President Johnson on the Acheson Mission, see Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: Lyndon B. Johnson, 1963–1964, vol. II, pp. 1040-1041.

See The New York Times, July 31, and Aug. 26 for further information on the so-called Acheson proposals at Geneva.

Sakari Tuomioja suffered a stroke in Geneva, Aug. 16, and died in Helsinki, Sept. 9, 1964. U.N. Secretary-General Thant designated Pier P. Spinelli to oversee the office of Mr. Tuomioja in Geneva, Aug. 18; the U.N. SecretaryGeneral designated Galo Plaza Lasso to succeed Mr. Tuomioja as U.N. Mediator on Cyprus, Sept 16; he also announced that Carlos Alfredo Bernardes would replace Plaza Lasso as Special Representative of the U.N. Secretary-General in Cyprus, Sept. 25, 1964.

matic contact here. I don't want to suggest a formal round of negotiations between the two parties. We presume there will have to be continuing contact.

I want to be very careful that the United States is not saying through me here today that everything is ending in Geneva on Cyprus. I am not authorized to say that, that is too far ahead of the thing. I will say this if it helps in any way, the United States is not giving up on this.45

Document IV-132

Greek Request for a Meeting of the United Nations Security Council To Forestall Turkish Expulsion of Greek Residents of Istanbul: LETTER FROM THE GREEK REPRESENTATIVE AT THE U.N. (BITSIOS) TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE U.N. SECURITY COUNCIL MOROZOV), SEPTEMBER 5, 1964 46

Document IV-133

Turkish Request for United Nations Security Council Measures Dealing With the Danger to Peace Arising From Alleged Greek Troop Concentrations Near Turkey: LETTER FROM THE TURKISH REPRESENTATIVE AT THE U.N. (ERALP) TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE U.N. SECURITY COUNCIL (MOROZOV), SEPTEMBER 6, 1964 47

Document IV-134

Recommendation for a Three-Month Extension of the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus: REPORT OF THE U.N. SECRETARY-GENERAL (THANT), SEPTEMBER 10, 1964 (EXCERPT) 48

[229.] ... the United Nations Force in Cyprus is in an unhappy position. A civil war is the worst possible situation in which a United Nations peacekeeping force can find itself. Strong reasons other than financial can be adduced in support of the position against maintaining a United Nations force in Cyprus. But the overriding reason for extending UNFICYP beyond 26 September is the position of those directly concerned with the Cyprus problem, and many others, that, despite all handicaps, to withdraw UNFICYP at this time could lead to utter disaster on the island. The four Governments which are to be consulted in accordance with the Security Council resolution of 4 March," have all indicated, in response to my inquiry, that they wish the

On arriving at Dulles International Airport, Chantilly, Va., Sept. 4, 1964, Mr. Acheson commented to the effect that the President of Cyprus, Archbishop Makarios, had been the main obstacle to mediation efforts. (The New York Times, Sept. 5, 1964.)

46 U.N. doc. S/5934.

"U.N. doc. S/5935 and Corr. 1. The Turkish complaint referred to alleged troop concentrations in the Dodecanese Islands, Western Thrace, and Cyprus.

Force to be continued beyond 26 September. The Government of Turkey accompanied its assurance to this effect with some "observations" about the shortcomings of the Force and its inability, under its existing authority, to carry out the mandates of the Security Council, as these mandates are interpreted by the Government of Turkey.

230. In the event that the Security Council is inclined to extend the Force for another three-month period, I must call the attention of the Council once again to the difficulties that have been encountered in financing the operation for the first two three-month periods. Financial support of the Force under paragraph 6 of the Security Council resolution of 4 March 1964 has been inadequate and has been received in such manner, both as regards pledges and payment of the pledges, as to make planning, efficiency and economical running of the Force almost impossible. I would draw the attention of the Council to some notable absences on the list of States making voluntary contributions, some for the entire six months of the Force's existence and others for the second three-month period, although the Security Council resolution was adopted unanimously.

231.

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I would consider it unrealistic for the Council to expect that UNFICYP can be maintained for still another three-month period on such a flimsy and uncertain financial basis. The Force, once established and deployed in Cyprus, must be supported, and this requires cash in hand. Therefore, I feel bound to advise the Council that if UNFICYP is extended for another three months beyond 26 September, I must insist that at least pledges in the total amount necessary to sustain the Force for its third three-month period be in hand by that date. Should this not eventuate, I wish to forewarn the Council that in carrying out its instructions to maintain the Force in Cyprus I will have no choice but to consider any expenses exceeding the total of the voluntary contributions received as a legitimate charge against United Nations revenues, from whatever source derived. The bills will have to be paid.

232. Finally, may I advise the Council that if UNFICYP is extended, there will be serious need for at least some clarification as to actions that the Force may take in the discharge of its mandate. Therefore, I intend to proceed on certain assumptions and to instruct the Commander of the Force accordingly. The assumptions and related instructions would be along the following lines: (a) That in establishing the Force and defining its important function, the Security Council realized that the Force could not discharge that function unless it had complete freedom of movement in Cyprus, which could only mean such unrestricted freedom of movement as may be considered essential by the Force Commander to the implementation of the mandates of the Force. (b) That the Force, in carrying out its mandate to prevent the recurrence of fighting, is reasonably entitled to remove positions and fortified installations where these endanger the peace, and to take all necessary measures in self-defence if attacked in the performance of this duty.

(c) That in seeking to prevent a recurrence of fighting, it may be demanded by the Commander that the opposing armed forces be separated to reasonable distances in order to create buffer zones in which armed forces would be prohibited.

"For a list of pledges made by Governments and amounts received as of Aug. 21, 1964, for the expenses of the U.N. Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus, see U.N.doc. S/5910, par. 6; see also post, doc. IV-149.

Document IV-135

United States Regret Over Turkish Expulsion of Greeks From Istanbul: STATEMENT MADE BY THE U.S. REPRESENTATIVE (STEVENSON) IN THE U.N. SECURITY COUNCIL, SEPTEMBER 11, 1964 $1

My Government deeply regrets what we have heard here today about the expulsion of Greeks from Istanbul, about military deployment on the frontiers, and other evidence of further deterioration of the relations between two nations in the eastern Mediterranean which in recent years have demonstrated a remarkable ability to overcome a turbulent history and live together in peace.52 The close relationship between the United States and Greece and Turkey causes us to view with particular regret the rising tide of bitterness and misunderstanding which is the offspring of the Cyprus problem that has already occupied so much of our thought and concern.

The expulsion of Greek nationals from Istanbul, which the distinguished representative of Greece has brought to the attention of the Council, seems to us a sad sequel to the communal hostility in Cyprus. It is almost an axiom, however, of history that people of one nation resident in the territory of another often become innocent victims of any sudden increase in tension or suspicion between those countries.

Even while acting entirely within the letter of the international agreements, as we believe the Government of Turkey has done in this case, uprooting and deporting innocent and harmless people from their long-term homes is a spectacle that touches the humane instincts and evokes the profound sympathy of all of us.

Therefore we, too, would urge the Government of Turkey to give very careful consideration not only to the effect of its actions on its neighbor but to the human hardships visited on those individuals who are innocent of any hostile intention toward the country in which they have chosen to reside.

I cannot, of course, ignore the circumstances which have brought about the present unhappy and explosive state of relations between Greece and Turkey. The cause and effect are apparent to all. The recent action toward the Greek nationals in Istanbul is the consequence, or one of them, of the treatment of Cypriots of Turkish origin in recent months in Cyprus. This Council is already familiar with the earlier reports of hostage-taking, the destruction of Turkish homes, stores, villages, and the Secretary-General's report released today refers to "hardship experienced by many Turkish communities in Cyprus by the economic restrictions which have been imposed by the Government of Cyprus." 53 And again it further states that the economic restrictions "in some instances have been so severe as to amount to veritable siege... ""

Human rights, Mr. President, are a two-way street and apply to human beings wherever they are in Turkey, in Greece, or in Cyprus.

51

Department of State Bulletin, Oct. 19, 1964, pp. 564–565.

62 See ante, docs. IV-132–133.

63 U.N. doc. S/5950 and Corr.1, Add.1.

The Government of Greece, I am sure, deplores this situation as much as we do, and I earnestly hope it will do everything in its power to ameliorate the plight of the Turkish Cypriots.

Perhaps it is not possible for the parties to equate the concern of Greece for Greek nationals in Istanbul with the concern of Turkey for ethnic Turks in Cyprus. But the fact is, Mr. President, that it is only by mutual concern for each other's citizens or ethnic brethren, as indeed for each other's interests, that the Governments of Greece and Turkey will succeed in settling the sharp differences which have arisen between them-the principal one, of course, being the question of Cyprus.

So I can but echo what has been so well said by the preceding speakers here in the Council this afternoon, that my Government earnestly hopes that neither Turkey nor Greece in their bilateral relations, especially as to innocent people, will do anything further to aggravate a situation for the solution of which they have such a heavy responsibility to themselves and to the world community.

Document IV-136

Cypriot Decision To Allow the Supply of Any Quantity of Food to the Turkish Cypriots: TELEGRAM FROM THE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF CYPRUS (ARCHBISHOP MAKARIOS) TO THE U.N. SECRETARY-GENERAL (THANT), SEPTEMBER 15, 1964 (EXCERPT) 54

I inform Your Excellency that my Government:

(a) Has decided to remove any economic restrictions and to allow any quantity of foodstuffs supplied to, or purchased by, the Turkish Cypriots. Any supplies from Turkey shall be permitted provided that they shall be sent through the normal channels and on a permit granted by the Cyprus Government.

(b) Is ready to order the removal of all the armed posts throughout Cyprus provided that the Turkish leadership will do the same.

(c) Is ready to assist financially the Turkish Cypriots who have been compelled by their leadership to abandon their homes and are desirous of being re-settled, and to afford them any protection.

(d) Is disposed to grant a general amnesty so that any Turkish rebels, who may be under criminal charges of offences committed during the rebellion, may be relieved from any fear of arrest and punishment.

(e) Is willing to accept any suggestion of the United Nations in respect of certain practical security measures contributing to the pacification of the Island provided that such measures do not affect the political solution of the problem.

Document IV-137

United States Support for a Three-Month Extension of the Mandate of the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus: STATEMENT MADE BY THE U.S. REPRESENTATIVE (STEVENSON) IN THE U.N. SECURITY COUNCIL, SEPTEMBER 17, 1964 55

"U.N. doc. S/5950/Add.2, Annex.

Department of State Bulletin, Oct. 19, 1964, pp. 561-563.