Greece - US Department of State

736 Foreign Relations, 1969–1976, Volume XXIX
GOG. You should ask the PM to keep knowledge of our intention confidential
until the 22nd.
2. If queried why September 22 was chosen, you may tell him we
wished to avoid complicating the arrangements which now seem to be
successfully in train for dealing in the DPC on Sept 18 with the report
on Greek forces. We wished to avoid taking public action which would
no doubt unravel the delicate and carefully worked out compromise.
3. You may also tell the PM that we will be informing Congressional
leaders and our NATO allies sometime after Sept 18 and before
the 22nd, asking them to keep announcement in confidence until public
announcement is made.
4. The press release which will be handed to news media on Sept
22, approved at the highest level, reads as follows:
5. Begin Text. United States policy towards Greece has been under
review by this Administration for the past 18 months. During that time
the United States has continued to withhold major items of equipment
in the Military Aid Program for Greece, a policy established by the previous
Administration shortly after the coup in Greece in April 1967.
6. The Administration has now decided to resume normal military
shipments to Greece. The resumption of such shipments will enhance
the ability of the Greek forces to carry out their responsibilities
in defense of the NATO area, and thus contribute importantly to the
cohesion and strength of the southern flank of NATO. Greece offers
strategic advantages to the NATO alliance and to the United States
which are of great importance to the security of the West. This importance
has been sharply underlined in recent months by events in the
Eastern Mediterranean. The decision to resume the shipment of suspended
items rests entirely on these considerations.
7. Although the United States had hoped for a more rapid return to
representative government in Greece, the trend toward a constitutional
order is established. Major sections of the constitution have been implemented,
and partial restoration of civil rights has been accomplished. The
Government of Greece has stated that it intends to establish parliamentary
democracy. The United States shares the concern of its NATO allies
for steady progress toward restoring the country to political government.
This is a policy to which we remain firmly committed. End Text. 3
3 Printed from an unsigned copy. Tasca reported on Papadopoulos’s initial positive
reaction to the policy change in telegram 5164 from Athens, September 17. He suggested
a Presidential or Secretary of State visit to Greece and Turkey. (National Archives, Nixon
Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 593, Country Files—Middle East, Greece, Vol. I
Jan 69–Oct 70) The U.S. decision was formally conveyed to Vitsaxis by Deputy Assistant
Secretary Davies on September 21. A memorandum of their conversation is ibid., RG 59,
Central Files 1970–73, DEF 12–5 GREECE.