Memorandum, State Department Summary of Telegrams

NLT (Naval A.de)246 OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF STATE WASHINGTON DECLASSIFIED September 19, 1951 E.O. 12065, Sec. 3-402 State Dept. Guidelines, March 6, 1982 I By, DEB NLT, Date SUMMARY OF TELEGRAMS 9-5-85 TURKEY Ambassador Wadsworth in Ankara has submitted, on the joint behalf of the British Ambassador and himself, the following agreed estimate of the fundamental attitude of the Turks to- - ward the idea of a Middle East Command. The two ambassadors feel that the Turks have accepted in principle early negotiations with the US, UK and France for the establishment of a Middle East Command as an essential im- - plement for the common defense of the area. The two ambassadors also feel confident that once Tur - key has been accepted into NATO and, in turn, has accepted our proposals for an integrated Middle East Command, it will welcome the oppontunity to help in, or even spearhead, approaches to Egypt. They think that Turkey might even anticipate these developments and approach Egypt immediately if we should supply convincing reasons for the urgency of its so doing. They welcome the suggested visit to Turkey of a high-ranking military authority such as General Bradley, but suggest that at this stage General Eisenhower could serve this purpose equally well. They would also welcome the sug- gestion that President Truman address an appropriate message to President Bayar. Wadsworth says he has also sought (and concurs in) the opinion of our military and air attaches (also concurred in by General Arnold) that, predicated on full membership in the NATO and direct inte- - gration in Eisenhower's command (SHAPE), the Turks are agreeable to par: - ticipation in a Middle East Command which receives its directives from a group distinct from NATO as far as Middle East matters are concerned, and provided, above all, that strong US participation is assured. EGYPT M. Gallad, a well known Cairo publisher and close friend of King Farouk, called on Ambassador Caffery Monday evening to talk about the situation facing the King on his recent return. The King, said Gallad, is not pleased with the way his government has handled the British negotiations, nor is he satisfied with its handling of the internal situation, charges of corruption in government circles, etc. However, all