Greece - US Department of State

Greece 701
order”), by those observations concerning the duties of the Alliance
members, and by those concerning the new form of internal relations
which should prevail within the Alliance.
A more responsible participation on the part of the friends of the
United States in their own defense and progress is indeed imperative.
Every nation is in duty bound to mobilize the resources and energies
of its people, and any economic assistance it gets should simply be a
means of helping and supplementing its own efforts.
The declaration of the principle of partnership, dictated by the circumstances
of our times, is proof that, in fulfilling their mission in
world history, the United States possess the priceless faculty of taking
that course of action which is most appropriate for the benefit of all
mankind, in every historical era.
Greece notes with concern the difficulties in harmonizing the defense
policies of the Atlantic Alliance, which have arisen in recent years.
So far, she has fulfilled her obligations towards NATO faithfully, and
remains devoted to it without reserve.
Greece is aware that the crucial geographic position which she
holds in the outposts of the Western World as well as in the Eastern
Mediterranean—an area teeming with dangers—creates additional duties
for her. Greece believes that she fulfills these duties successfully,
and that she provides ample proof of this.
Greece considers that the interests of both the Western World as well
as her own make it imperative for her to give first place to the problems
of security in connection with her economic development. In the post-war
period, she faced repeated armed attempts against her independence. In
1967, in the midst of anarchy, she would have slipped towards communism, had
she not been restrained by the Revolution, which was not brought about
for the satisfaction of personal ambitions, or for the imposition of a regime
removed from the fundamental principles of the Free World.
Having first made the public financing sound, the Greek Government
set the basis for a promising economic development which is now
proceeding undisturbed, and has carried out a series of decisive social reforms,
benefiting both the weaker strata of society as well as the whole.
At the same time, the nation is being led with steadfastness toward
political normality and parliamentary government on the basis of the November
15 Constitution, voted by the overwhelming majority of the
Greek people. Most of the institutional laws which are indispensable for its
full implementation have already been voted. Those remaining will have
passed by the end of the present year. 4
4 In telegram 1903 from Athens, April 17, Tasca wrote: “I invite the Secretary’s particular
attention to second paragraph of page 3.” (National Archives, Nixon Presidential
Materials, NSC Files, Box 593, Country Files—Middle East, Greece, Vol. I Jan 69–Oct 70)