May 27 in CIA documents: 'They are not as pro-Western as Menderes'

Masum Gök - 12punto.com.tr

Various claims have been made suggesting that the May 27, 1960, coup was carried out with the support of the United States. However, a classified CIA document from June 1960 has shed light on the fact that this claim is unfounded. 

In the document, which states that the National Unity Committee (MBK) established after May 27 would not be entirely pro-Western like the Menderes administration, it was noted: "The current regime, while clearly Western-oriented, has given some indications that it will likely not be as enthusiastically pro-Western as the Menderes government." 

The document, which expressed that the desired relationship with the National Unity Committee could not be established, stated: "Unfortunately, U.S. representatives have not yet been able to establish the same close relationship with the leaders of the current regime that they were able to establish with the Menderes government." 

THEY ARE INVESTIGATING THOSE WHO RECEIVED TRAINING IN THE US WITHIN THE MBK

The CIA, which was researching officers within the National Unity Committee who had received training in the U.S., stated: "Although our information is incomplete, we have determined that at least 8 of the 38 members of the military committee attended military schools in the U.S." Alparslan Türkeş was among the members of the National Unity Committee who received training in the U.S. 

The classified document emphasized that the Soviet Union would also take action to move closer to Ankara after May 27, stating: "At the same time, it is likely that Moscow will increase its efforts to develop better relations with Ankara." 

CIA: TURKEY CAN DEVELOP WITH ITS OWN NATURAL RESOURCES

In another CIA document from 1961, it was stated that Turkey possesses the natural resources necessary for economic development, and the following assessments were made:

"Turkey possesses the natural resources necessary for significant economic development. It has a comprehensive hydroelectric potential and large, generally high-quality deposits of many mineral resources required for an expanding industry. Furthermore, recent oil discoveries make it likely that Turkey will gradually reduce its current heavy dependence on imports. Its agricultural resources are less impressive. In the Anatolian plateau, soils are poor and rainfall is both insufficient and unreliable. Coastal regions, however, have rich soils, abundant rainfall, and a milder climate. Investments made in recent years have provided Turkey with a moderate industrial base (particularly textiles, food processing, and construction materials, and to a lesser extent, increasingly steel production and metal manufacturing). However, Turkish industry normally utilizes slightly more than half of its installed capacity. This situation stems partly from the shortages of raw materials and spare parts experienced in recent years and from local preferences for imported products. It also partly represents the legacy of unwise investments made in the past in state industrial enterprises, which employ about half of the industrial workforce and hold most of the idle capacity. Since the government has never wanted them to operate on a competitive basis, these enterprises have little incentive to economize on the use of resources."

News Source: Masum Gök