Memorandum, State Department Summary of Telegrams

MLT(Ndual A.dc/249 OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF STATE WASHINGTON DECLASSIFIED September 24, 1951 E.O. Guidelines, March 9-5-85 6, 1982 12065, Sec. 3-402 TOP SECREI State By Dept. DEB NLT, Date SUMMARY OF TELEGRAMS MIDDLE EAST COMMAND The US, UK and France have agreed in principle that there must be a unified strategic direction for the Middle East area as a whole and that there must be coordination between the European and Middle East Commands as well as unity in the strategic direction given them. The three Powers have therefor decided to establish an integrated Allied Middle East Command under a British supreme commander (SACME). The Command structure would provide for multilateral participa- - tion, and initial representation would include the US, UK, France, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa and, we hope, Turkey and Egypt. American participation is on the condition that it does not involve the commitment of any US forces. The US, UK and France have also agreed to approach Turkey immediately after it is advised of the Ottawa decision by the Chairman of the North Atlantic Council; this is to be followed, if the Turks agree, by a confi- dential approach to the King of Egypt by the British Ambassador and subse - quently by our Ambassador in order to determine the best form and manner of discussion with the Egyptian political leaders on the new approach. We have instructed Ambassador Wadsworth to take the opportunity of his meeting with Foreign Minister Koprulu to deliver the Presi- dent's message to President Bayar to set forth the importance which we attach to Egyptian participation in the Middle East Command. Wadsworth is also to indicate that, because of the possibility that Egypt may soon act to abrogate the 1936 Anglo-Egyptian treaty, we feel impelled to join with the UK shortly in consulting King Farouk about the best method of making the Middle East Command proposals to the Egyptian Government. Wadsworth is to explain that we feel confident the Turkish Government will understand the urgent ne- cessity for such action and, under the circumstances, will agree that this course is desirable even though it might precede or be concurrent with the visit of Generals Bradley and Slim. We have also informed Ambassador Wadsworth for his information only that in a private discussion between Mr. Morrison and the Secretary in Ottawa Mr. Morrison expressed deep concern over the views ex- pressed by our Ambassadors in Ankara that the Turks would agree to partici- pation in the Middle East Command and only if Turkey were directly integrated into the Eisenhower command. Morrison said he felt this would destroy the whole idea of the Middle East Command and that if the Turks insisted on being TOP SEGRET