Greece - US Department of State

Greece 725
3. Regime, I am convinced, is firmly entrenched, and it is only
through regime that we can hope to achieve our objective of making
Greece again fully acceptable to European governments and peoples
and American public opinion; and for this reason alone question of
King’s return involves serious problems for us. But, in addition, it
should be remembered that King is not the unifying force he may appear
when removed in time and space from the Greek scene. Constantine
was always highly controversial, and he opposed the very progressive
forces which we would like ultimately to play a role again in
Greece’s development. It is not only the left which would be incensed
by US efforts promote King’s return but the solid majority of progressive
moderate opinion. They consider King as bearing large share of
responsibility for breakdown in democracy prior to coup, and quite
rightly so.
4. Finally, even on right of political spectrum and within army
King is by no means the unifying force he might be. Serious doubts are
entertained about Constantine by a number of influential rightists
(Eleni Vlachou is one example that comes to mind); and in middle
grade of Greek army officer corps, King is thoroughly unpopular. He
has in fact showed consistent immaturity in action and lack of the intellectual
qualities that would enable him to deal with delicate situation
in Greece today. His continuing flirtation with enemies of regime
is typical, and we should bear in mind that regime leaders are intelligence
officers by profession and are quite well informed on King’s
activities. 3
5. In addition to his activities which displease regime, perhaps
even more important is King’s failure to speak out in favor of full military
assistance for Greece, so that Greek people may be defended
against external aggression regardless of type of government which
they may have at moment.
6. Having said this, I would like to make it clear that I am not implying
that King has no role to play in Greece. But this role can only
come about when and if regime feels it must regularize its relations
with the monarchy. It may well be that we will have to play an intermediary
role between King and regime. However, based on my analysis
of situation, this can only take place to extent climate improves in
regard to King, and even then we must act only with closest agreement
3 In telegram 3758 from Athens, July 13, Tasca reported that during a July 11 meeting
with Papadopoulos, the two men discussed the future of the monarchy. The Greek
Prime Minister expressed strong personal dislike for King Constantine but stressed his
own monarchism. Tasca concluded that abdication might be the regime’s answer and
that “Prime Minister’s almost totally negative attitude on King may reflect belief that at
this point King is mainly Trojan Horse for regime opponents.” (Ibid.)