Greece - US Department of State

802 Foreign Relations, 1969–1976, Volume XXIX
with politicians from last parliament, perhaps present phase may be
one of reconciliation, in which case all should consider how to encourage
PM to move ahead on this basis and tailor their activities accordingly.
I may have persuaded the King in this sense.
9. King had earlier asked whether I knew what Papadopulos
wanted. Before I could answer, he said it was unlikely anyone could
answer this question. I noted that one could take the position of recent
article in London Observer and come out with convincing line that PM
planned to do nothing, or one could look at the public and private
statements of the PM and at the fact Cabinet had met nearly every Friday
last year working out the implementing legislation for Constitution.
I thought it was the better part of wisdom to proceed on the assumption
that the PM intended to implement the 1968 Constitution
and to encourage action in that direction. I noted that the Constitution
provides for return of King.
10. The King said he agreed with my comments on 1968 Constitution.
He realized clearly the obstacles to his return, but he indicated
he was willing to talk to PM. Latter, however, had had no contact with
him for two years in spite of King’s expressed interest in opening such
a dialogue. King noted that his return should be based upon an agreement
to implement the Constitution with elections, but he was willing
to be reasonably flexible on a date. He observed that his return would
legitimize the Government and would be generally helpful.
11. I asked him what happen in 1967. He explained he had visited
Washington in September and had asked for help during a meeting
with President Johnson, Dean Rusk and Walt Rostow. He said he
made plain all he was seeking was moral support since US force would
have been unthinkable; the President told him that he could count on
his moral support if he moved against the junta. 4 He had decided to
move in December because he could not get the junta to agree to a specific
program for return to parliamentary government. The result had
been a disaster because the effort had failed. He assumed full responsibility
for failure. He would not go into details, but one of reasons for
failure he mentioned was his determination to avoid bloodshed.
12. Since that time had had gone to Washington for Eisenhower
funeral and found Vice President Agnew sympathetic and understanding.
However, he was greatly disappointed because he had been
unable to see President Nixon, particularly since latter saw Pattakos. 5
King again returned to the need for evolution now, noting risks in delay,
and mentioning especially danger of younger officers ousting PM.
4
See Foreign Relations, 1964–1968, volume XVI, Cyprus; Greece; Turkey, Document
301.
5
See Documents 243 and 244.