Greece - US Department of State

Greece 647
options of the new administration and also because of concern over
congressional attitudes.
Mr. Kissinger asked why should Congress object more to release
of the $52.6 million worth of equipment than they had to the $100 million
worth—was it because the former included tanks?
Mr. Rockwell thought provision of this equipment was considered
symbolic of the U.S. attitude toward the present regime. Those members
of Congress hostile to the regime have made maintenance of the
embargo a symbol of the U.S. attitude, which had had significant influence
on both sides in US-Greek relations. He thought personally it
would have been simpler to release all suspended items at the time of
the Czech invasion.
Mr. Kissinger asked if the program goes on year after year—is it
voted on year after year? How would provision of the items be noted
in the Congress?
General Unger replied that there is a requirement to report deliveries
of such equipment.
Mr. Rockwell said Senator Pell plans to introduce legislation that
no new funds should be authorized for Greece this year on the grounds
that there was ample money in the pipeline.
Mr. Kissinger asked if any other country had been treated in this
way. Have we ever before used military assistance program to reform
governments? Is there any precedent that military assistance is reserved
for constitutional governments?
Mr. Cargo and others cited the withholding of arms from India
and Pakistan, acknowledging that this was during an actual war situation,
and the situation in Peru.
Mr. Rockwell noted that the State Department opposed Senator
Pell’s resolution.
Mr. Kissinger commented that we do not give military aid to support
governments but because a country is important to the U.S. He
asked if the equipment is needed by Greece.
General Unger replied that it was.
Mr. Rockwell agreed that Greek implementation of its NATO program
was held back by the fact that this equipment had been withheld.
Mr. Nutter noted animosity toward Greece among NATO countries,
citing the attempt to throw Greece out of the Council of Europe,
based partly on the preamble to the NATO Treaty which refers to “democratic
governments,” etc.
Mr. Cargo noted that this was more a question of NATO governments
reacting to political presures than any feeling about the preamble.
He agreed anti-Greek sentiment existed in Denmark, Norway, the
Netherlands and, to a lesser extent, in Italy and the UK.