Greece - US Department of State

Greece 707
Norway and Denmark, has also disassociated itself from a military subcommittee
report recommending military assistance to Greece; in all
three of the BENELUX (Belgium, Luxembourg, The Netherlands) countries
the present Greek regime is highly unpopular. Dutch officials, for
example, are increasingly pessimistic about their ability to contain Parliamentary
pressures for action against Greece at the May 1970 NATO
Ministerial Meeting.
Public and Parliamentary opinion in Italy is also strongly anti-
Greece, particularly among the Government parties. In the U.K. Labor
Party and in Germany among the German Social Democrats, anti-Junta
feeling is also strong; Conservative parties in both countries are more
realistic. Given the fact there is almost certain to be an election in the
U.K. this year, the British Government can be expected to be reluctant
to take the lead in action which appears to favor Greece, although the
British Government thoroughly agrees as to the undesirability of NATO
discussion of Greece. Of the Western Europeans in NATO only France
and Portugal can be described as more or less favorable to the Greek
Government, and there is a good deal of anti-Greek sentiment among
the French public, recently fanned by outspoken opponent and leading
journalistic figure Servan-Schreiber.
277. Letter From the Country Director for Greece (Vigderman) to
the Ambassador to Greece (Tasca) 1
Washington, May 4, 1970.
Dear Henry:
The Under Secretaries Committee met on Thursday 2 to consider
recommendations to the President following the receipt of your report. 3
Under Secretary Richardson presided, Art Hartman was Secretary,
and in attendance were Joe Sisco, Frank Shakespeare, Warren Nutter,
Robert Pranger, Rodger Davies, Margaret Tibbetts, General Chapman
and me.
The discussion seems to have led to the following conclusions: (I need
to stress that what the group concluded can only be tested following the
1
Source: Department of State, Greek Desk Files: Lot 75 D 227, Resumption of Military
Aid to Greece. Secret; Nodis; Official–Informal. Cleared by Hartman (S/PC) in draft.
2
April 30.
3
Document 273.