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Saudi Arabia
15. King Ibn Saud has suggested a tripartite Treaty with Britain and the United States. Neither the Americans nor we ourselves have taken any final decision.
Syria and the Lebanon
16. Syria and the Lebanon have recently thrown out feelers to the United States and to ourselves about defence arrangements.
Turkey
17. The Anglo-French-Turkish Treaty of 19th October, 1939, remains in force until October 1954. Although it is not strictly applicable in present circum- stances, all three signatories regard it as being still valid, and it is the keystone of Turkish foreign policy. Article 2 of the Treaty imposes obligations on the United Kingdom and France on the one hand, and on Turkey on the other, to lend "all aid and assistance in their power" to the other party should it become involved in a war in the Mediterranean area arising from an act of aggression by a European Power. Under an attached protocol Turkey is expressly released from her obligations under the Treaty should the action she is called upon to take be liable to involve her in armed conflict with the Soviet Union, but this protocol in no way affects the obligation of the United Kingdom to come to the assistance of Turkey if attacked by the Soviet Union.
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18. In accordance with President Truman's Declaration of 12th March, 1947, the United States grant military and economic aid to Turkey. There are 163 British and 321 American naval, military and air force instructors (officers and other ranks) in Turkey.
Greece
19. Greece is also receiving military and economic assistance from the United States Government in accordance with the Declaration made by President Truman of March 1947.
20. American and British naval, military and air force missions assist in the training of the Greek armed forces; in addition a brigade of British troops is stationed in Athens and Salonica to stabilise Greek morale. For the past three years a British police mission has organised the Greek police and security forces.
21. Neither the Greek nor the Turkish Government is completely satisfied with the declaration in paragraphs 22 and 23 below: they are anxious to have something more binding by way of defence agreements with the United Kingdom and the United States.
Turkey, Greece and Persia
22. On 18th March, 1949, I included the following in my statement in the House of Commons, at the time of the publication of the draft terms of the Atlantic Pact:-
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Finally, although a North Atlantic Pact obviously cannot be extended to cover all parts of the world, nevertheless the area from Greece to Persia includes many countries with whom we have had special and long- standing relationships. The maintenance of their independence and integrity remains our vital concern, and we believe that the signature of the North Atlantic Pact will reinforce their general security. Here I should like to make a special reference to our relations with our ally Turkey and with our old and faithful friend, Greece, both of whom with our active assistance, are making the most strenous efforts to defend their independence and integrity. Our actions in supporting that independence and integrity are clear expressions of our interests in the security of those countries, and represent a policy we shall continue to pursue
23. In March 1947 Truman declared :-
"The national integrity of Turkey is essential to the preservation of order iPage Middle East.
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