Greece - US Department of State

750 Foreign Relations, 1969–1976, Volume XXIX
299. Telegram From the Embassy in Greece to the Department of
State 1
Athens, November 23, 1970, 1631Z.
6356. Ref: State 190828. 2 For the Secretary.
1. As you know, I remain skeptical about prospects of future role
for King in Greek politics for variety of reasons including his own behavior
and extent of feeling against him among key leaders here. At
same time I recognize that 1968 Constitution provides role for him and
I can envisage circumstances in which his return might occur. There is
good evidence, as [less than 1 line not declassified] has reported, that there
have been occasional contacts with King involving individuals in or
close to present government.
2. As Embassy and [less than 1 line not declassified] have reported,
however, there is considerable internal ferment within government at
present, outcome of which remains uncertain. 3 Some of forces involved
naturally consider King as one element to be reckoned with in arriving
at future political establishment and are interested in exploiting him in
their own interests. Others probably continue to regard him as hostile to
“purposes of revolution” in view of his aborted December coup. Fluid
situation means that any move by forces outside of Greece which can in
any way be interpreted by Greeks, on whatever side, as evidence of U.S.
“manipulation” of situation or of particular direction of U.S. interests is
bound to have adverse ramifications.
3. Consequently I do not believe timing would be propitious for
you to have conversation with King in Brussels. Since one of purposes
of such meeting would be, as reftel states, to show interest in alternative
other than present establishment, and meeting would receive publicity,
we could anticipate that all elements of political spectrum here
would unite in criticism asserting such conversation involves interference
in Greek domestic politics. I would have no objection, however,
1 Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 594,
Country Files—Middle East, Greece, Vol. II 1 Nov 1970–31 Dec 1971. Secret; Nodis.
2 Dated November 20. In it, Rogers requested Tasca’s views on whether he should
meet privately with the King during the NATO Ministerial meeting in Brussels. (Ibid.)
3 The Embassy reported on possible divisions within the Greek regime in telegrams
6212 from Athens, November 13; 6385 from Athens, November 24; and 6467 from Athens,
November 30. (All ibid.)