Greece - US Department of State

616 Foreign Relations, 1969–1976, Volume XXIX
Greece still stood as a bulwark against Slav expansionism to the
Mediterranean.
The Ambassador added that the delivery by the United States of
certain major military equipment had been suspended immediately after
the coup. In his view this policy had not yielded anything politically
but had affected the strength of the Greek armed forces. Last October
the suspension had been partially lifted 2 and he hoped that the
new Administration could speed up the delivery of the balance of the
heavy equipment. He also hoped that Greece would be treated sympathetically
by the Administration in connection with new foreign aid
allocations. Ambassador Palamas underlined that there was no anti-
Americanism in Greece and that the U.S. could rely on Greece’s strong
commitment to its NATO obligations.
The Acting Secretary stated that the question of arms supplies for
Greece was under active review. In reaching its conclusions, the U.S.
would, among other factors, take into account the position of Greece
in NATO, the strategic aspects of the problem, relationships with the
Greek Government, and the traditional friendship for the Greek people.
We were also watching constitutional progress and, as the Ambassador
knew, had to reckon with certain elements of U.S. public opinion
on this score. We would have to help each other in this matter and
make progress on a reasonable basis.
2 Shipments of military aid to Greece were originally suspended on April 24, 1967.
(Telegram 181282 to Athens, April 24; ibid., POL 23–9 GREECE) President Johnson approved
a partial resumption of assistance on October 8, 1968. See Foreign Relations,
1964–1968, volume XVI, Cyprus; Greece; Turkey, Document 371.
242. Memorandum for the President’s File 1
Washington, March 20, 1969.
SUBJECT
Early-afternoon Meeting in the President’s Office with Honorable Thomas A.
Pappas (1:00–1:15 p.m.)
1 Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, White House Special
Files, President’s Office Files, Memoranda for the President. No classification marking.
Drafted by Butterfield.