New book reveals secret Kissinger telephone transcripts regarding 1974 Cyprus crisis

Historian Tom Wells has published a book through Oxford University Press containing transcripts of over 15,000 secret telephone conversations recorded by former U.S. Secretary of State Henry Kissinger between 1969 and 1974. The collection, derived from 20,000 pages of original documents, provides detailed insights into the Nixon administration's handling of international crises, including the 1974 coup in Cyprus. Chapter 31 specifically examines the Greek-backed coup against President Makarios, the subsequent installation of Nikos Sampson, and the U.S. efforts to manage the transition and avoid a broader Greco-Turkish war. Excerpts include a July 16, 1974, conversation between Kissinger and Soviet Ambassador Anatoly Dobrynin, where Kissinger resisted immediate calls for a UN resolution condemning the intervention. Kissinger emphasized that the U.S. intended to wait for more information on the stability of the Cypriot government before taking a stance. While some view Kissinger as a master of realpolitik, critics describe him as a ruthless manipulator, with the book serving as a comprehensive primary source for researchers. The publication includes analysis of the Sisco mission and various U.S. State Department interventions during this period.