Greece - US Department of State

Greece 757
personal life and particularly of interference by his wife in government
affairs 6 began to mount among Government’s supporters.
3. Situation reached crisis stage in early autumn. Papadopoulos reportedly
submitted his resignation only to have it refused when his colleagues
found there was no qualified replacement who could maintain
essential support of army. This incident may have marked beginning of
strengthening of Papadopoulos’ hand, enabling him to continue as
Prime Minister with authority to arrive at, and implement his own decisions.
However, it appears that as price for establishing his preeminence,
he was compelled to give his revolutionary colleagues equal
voice in any decisions involving elections or return of King, and possibly
in some less critical areas. When martial law was not lifted in September,
it became apparent that Prime Minister had been obliged to retreat
to more defensible position in order to manage his adversaries
within the Government. His critics presumably were able to convince
at least some elements in army that Papadopoulos was moving too
swiftly towards return to civilian rule, thereby jeopardizing the future
careers of all who took part in coup and the officer corps in general.
4. Another direct challenge to the Prime Minister occurred in early
November, but again Papadopoulos held his position. Certain of his
colleagues, particularly Stamatelopoulos and Makarezos, tried to create
other centers of power as a first step toward his replacement.
Charges of his personal corruption, again in part centering upon the
activities of his wife, as well as efforts to upset certain economic
arrangements with Onassis and other businessmen, were made. There
was a flurry of speculation about a potential role for Karamanlis and
even King, but momentum was lost and Papadopoulos weathered
storm by skillful exploitation of differences among his adversaries.
5. Prior to December 19 speech, Prime Minister is believed to have
told his revolutionary colleagues in categorical terms that henceforth
he intended to make his own decisions on the course of the regime (but
again with the exception of scheduling elections and any matter relating
to return of King). We believe that at this juncture Papadopoulos
sounded out extent of his personal support within army, decided it was
secure, and acted accordingly. Certainly his December 19 speech was
very much addressed to army, as well as to his colleagues, as we interpret
it as skillful ploy to maintain his position against those who
would like to oust him by giving assurances to army that there will
6 In 1970 Papadopoulos divorced his first wife and married his long-time mistress,
Despina. She made her first public appearance as the Prime Minister’s wife at the March
25 national day celebrations. Questions about the canonical legitimacy of the marriage
had been raised by junta members in an August 1970 attack on Papadopoulos.