868.00/911
Memorandum by the Chief of the Division of Near Eastern Affairs (Murray)
In determining the nature of the instruction to be sent to our Minister at Athens in reply to his telegram No. 156, relative to recognition of the new régime in Greece, it may be well to contrast briefly the present situation with that obtaining in connection with the establishment in 1924 of the Republican régime which has just been brought to an end.11
On March 25, 1924, the Fourth Constituent Assembly, functioning also as an ordinary parliamentary body, proclaimed the abolition of the Glücksbourg dynasty and the establishment in Greece of a parliamentary republic. Subsequently, on April 13, 1924, these acts were sanctioned by the people of Greece in a plebiscite.
In the current instance of the change in régime in Greece much the same course is being followed. The present Assembly was elected in June of this year with enlarged powers for the specific purpose of ultimately dealing with the question of régime. True, the Assembly’s acts of October 10, 1935, abolishing the Republican régime, restoring the monarchical Constitution of 1911 and delegating the royal power to General Kondylis pending the verdict of the plebiscite to be held on November 3, were part and parcel of what in effect constituted a coup d’état engineered by General Kondylis. However, although the Government of 1924 did not come to power by coup d’état, it did have its roots in the revolutionary acts of 192212 whereby King Constantine was forced to abdicate and subsequently his son King George was forced to leave the country.
In view of the foregoing facts it may be held that the only essential difference in the two instances of change of régime is that in 1924 the [Page 503] Government waited until after the plebiscite to communicate the official notice of change in régime whereas at the present time the Greek people have not yet registered their vote in confirmation of the action taken by the Assembly.
This difference does not appear to be a matter of importance, especially as the Minister reports that his British, French, Italian and German colleagues are replying in the usual fashion to the Foreign Minister’s note inviting official intercourse. In this connection it may be pointed out that Great Britain and France are protecting powers of Greece under the Treaty of London, of May 7, 1832.13
When, on April 16, 1924, the Greek Government notified the American Legation at Athens of the abolition of the dynasty, of the establishment in Greece of a parliamentary republic, and of the approval of a republic by plebiscite, the Department informed the American Chargé d’Affaires at Athens that the establishment of a new régime in Greece did not necessitate any change in the basis on which diplomatic relations had formerly been carried on with the Greek Government. The Chargé d’Affaires was therefore instructed to notify the Greek Government of the continuance of official relations unless he foresaw serious objection to such a course or in case recognition should generally be withheld by the other Powers. Accordingly, the Greek Minister for Foreign Affairs was notified that the Government of the United States would be pleased to carry on official relations with the new Government.
It is in the light of the foregoing that the attached draft instruction,14 in reply to the Minister’s telegram No. 156, has been prepared.
- See Foreign Relations, 1924, vol. ii, pp. 262 ff.↩
- See ibid., 1922, vol. ii, pp. 409 ff.↩
- British and Foreign State Papers, vol. xix, p. 33.↩
- Not found in Department files; for telegram sent, see No. 68, October 15, 6 p.m., infra.↩