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1.
The United States Government has for some time had under continuing study the desirability of strengthening the security commitments between the western powers and Greece and Turkey. Such action is considered essential in the light of both political and military considerations,
2. Political factors include the desire of Greece and Turkey to become full parties to the North Atlantic Treaty, their dissatisfaction with their present limited form of association with it, the importance of ensuring their belligerency on the side of the West from the outset of any hostilities between thé U.S. S. R. and the West, the feeling in Greece and Turkey that neither their existing treaty ties with the United Kingdom and France nor the so-called "Truman Doctrine" are sufficient to deter Soviet aggression against them, and the importance of preventing in Greece and Turkey the development of public support for a policy of neutrality.
30 From the military point of view it is essential to secure the southern flank of the N. A. T. forces, to control the Mediterranean Sea and to secure air and sea communications throughout that area. Conversely, it is important to ensure that the U.S. S. R. is not afforded a protected flank for its possible operations against Europe and/or the Middle East as would be the case if Turkey remained neutral. In addition, the entrance of Greece and Turkey on the side of the western powers at the outset of a general war would (a) force upon the Soviet a significantly large diversion of effort, (b) contribute to and facilitate the defence of the Mediterranean Sea and the Middle East and (c) provide a major contribution of strength to the Western Powers.
4. One way of accomplishing the objective of strengthening the security commitments to Turkey and Greece would be by the conclusion of a "Mediterranean Treaty" with terms similar to those of the N. A.T. There are, however, serious objections to the conclusion of such a treaty: (a) it would establish a new military organisation which would overlap with the N. A, T. O., duplicating and complicating many of the military functions of the latter; (b) It would not achieve the basic objectives of insuring collective action against aggression on the part of all of the nations of Western Europe; (c) It would involve competition for military forces and material between the two separate treaty organisations whereas under a single pact, such as the N. A. T., the military forces and materials available to the pact nations are allocated among those nations by common agreement; (d) It would require the establishment of additional military commands, channels of command and communications which would be unwieldy and would seriously complicate military operations and planning; and (e) it would open the possibility of having to include various other countries in the Mediterranean area such as Syria, Israel, Egypt, etc. Such a possibility involves obvious and serious difficulties and complications.
5.
Another means of strengthening the security commitments to Greece and Turkey would be to invite these countries to adhere to the N.A.T. This course has obvious advantages: (a) It would be the quickest and easiest way of bringing
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