“We will accept Enosis, only if…”
Following Turkey’s decision to invade Cyprus on June 5, 1964, U.S. President Lyndon B. Johnson wrote to İnönü that Turkey would not be able to use the arms purchased through U.S. aid in Cyprus, and that the NATO Pact would not come into effect in the event of a possible Soviet intervention targeting Turkey. When the letter was made public in the press, anti-American sentiments peaked in Turkey.
Shortly after this incident, President Johnson invited Prime Minister İnönü to Washington D.C., to discuss the problems. The invitation was met positively in the press and political circles of Ankara. As he wanted to hear the American stance from its source, İnönü accepted the invitation. The Turkish Prime Minister flew to Washington D.C. aboard the private jet President sent on June 21, 1964 and was welcomed ceremonially at the U.S. capital.
Following a series of meetings, İnönü made the following statement as he left D.C. on June 26th:
We do not wish to hide the challenges of the issue. However, the point we reached with the Americans yesterday will overcome some of these challenges. The threat of war still prevails! We will accept Enosis only if a part of the Island is given to Turkey and the other part of it to Greece.
