Greece - US Department of State

842 Foreign Relations, 1969–1976, Volume XXIX
4. Moreover, his health has apparently been bothering him, which
led him to have a basic examination not long ago. This tended to coincide
roughly with period of Burchinal briefing. He is deeply concerned
about his personal safety and security precautions have obviously
been increased in recent months, which contribute to his growing
isolation.
5. His position is likely to be improved by recent military promotions.
However, larger than usual number of retirements combined
with stirrings among both officers in grade for lengthy periods and
some indications of growing restlessness among younger officers, also
probably increase his feeling of insecurity. It may be that it is this feeling
of insecurity that leads him to some extent to take measures which
in fact, by increasing his isolation, only serve to make situation worse. 3
6. All of this must be measured against the background of a regime
that has had its successes, notably in the economic field, but that as yet
has failed to give a clear indication of the nature of the regime’s basic
objectives and measurable achievements against these objectives. The
failure to implement the 1968 Constitution has been a key factor in
this context. There is thus an atmosphere of attentisme in the country
with a growing uneasiness that the regime lacks political direction and
momentum.
Tasca
3 The Embassy provided an analysis of discontented elements within the Greek
armed forces in telegram 5586 from Athens, September 29. (Ibid.)