868.001 C 76/83
The Secretary of State to Mr. George B. Christian, Jr., Secretary to President Harding
My Dear Mr. Christian: In accordance with the desire expressed in your letter of today,7 there is sent to you enclosed a translation of the telegram7 from the King of Greece announcing the death of his father, the late King.
As we have of late had no official intercourse with the Greek Government, neither with the present King nor with his father, it would be consistent with our past action to acknowledge the receipt of this communication through the American Chargé d’Affaires at Athens rather than for the President to telegraph an answer in his own name.
I therefore suggest that the following telegram be sent to the Chargé d’Affaires, if it should meet with the President’s approval: [Page 414]
“You are directed to say informally to the Minister for Foreign Affairs that the President has received a telegraphic communication from the King, announcing the death of his father, and to express suitably, under the circumstances, the condolences of the President.”
I am [etc.]