868.00/12–1544: Telegram
The Ambassador in Italy (Kirk) to the Secretary of State
[Received December 17—7:30 a.m.]
1776. Reference my 1750, December 14, 3 p.m. I have learned that on his return from Athens on December 12 Field Marshal Alexander reported to Churchill that he found the situation in Athens much more grave than he had felt it to be when he was in London. He stated he was obliged to travel in an armored vehicle from the airfield into town; that the British airfield (Kalamai) and road to Athens were under fire and not at all securely held. He said the initiative in the fighting did not rest wholly with the British. The British in fact were beleaguered in the heart of the city and held less of Athens than he thought. Port Heracles was not in firm possession of the British nor was the Piraeus area. ELAS held electrical power station and had cut off the water supply of the city. The British were not in a position to unload ships freely due to the military situation. He recommended that the port would have to be cleared as a primary military objective. He suggested that it should be proclaimed that all those who were fighting as rebels, and at the same time those who were found in civilian clothing and were carrying weapons or rifles would be shot. He suggested also certain military measures which I will not report for security reasons.
Alexander added that it was most imperative that he and Macmillan be authorized to proceed with the proposal to name the Archbishop of Athens as Regent. Alexander stated that he was firmly opposed to discussing at this time any terms of settlement with ELAS lest they be regarded by ELAS as a sign of weakness. He said it was most desirable that no time should be lost before negotiations regarding the regency should begin and this might produce the effect of conciliation without the British themselves being pictured as the initiators of such negotiation.
I am further informed that Macmillan has cabled personally to Churchill in similar vein urging him to take up with the King of Greece in the strongest possible terms the desirability of obtaining the King’s agreement to the appointment of Archbishop of Athens as Regent. (See my number 1750, December 14, 3 p.m.) He said he did not believe that the Archbishop would accept the title of Prime Minister, as such a measure would not give him the authority to handle the situation and remove the most powerful cry against the British which is that of foreign intervention. Macmillan said the King must not be permitted to ignore this appeal and said he felt certain that the King does not realize that Greece is a mass of violent internal hatred and that the country is on the brink of a bloody civil war. He [Page 157] added that the King must consent to this proposal for the sake of his people and that Churchill should point out to King George that such an act on his part would be regarded as that of a statesman and of a patriot. He suggested that King George ought to be told that this was his last chance to try to save the monarchy, otherwise any hope of doing so would be gone forever. Macmillan went on to say that the King must be told that this proposal is not the idea of the British Government but a spontaneous desire of the Greek people and that everyone in Athens is in favor of this arrangement. He pointed out to Churchill that if this matter should not be settled there is great danger of the British Government and the British people being accused of connivance with King George’s selfish policy. He added that the British and American press would be quick to take up such a line of attack. Macmillan added that there must be no compromising with the King and that he must agree to the regency as he felt certain that the Archbishop would not agree to act as Prime Minister. To be Prime Minister would not give him the dignity of that distance from the political scene which he would require in order to successfully handle the task which lay before him.
Macmillan added that the parties of the Right felt that this was the last chance to save Greece from terrorist dictatorship of the Left and that the Archbishop must be appointed at once as Regent for a period of time calculated to give him the requisite confidence. Macmillan’s final appeal to Churchill was very strong and moving and it is clear that he is deeply concerned over the gravity of the present situation. He said that unless Churchill could put this matter through with the King the situation resulting would be a long and costly military operation in Greece to the embarrassment of the British in the field of international affairs. He added that the parties of the Left feel that if they should quit now, there will be reprisals from the Right.
According to our informant, Churchill has replied urgently to Macmillan stating that both he and Eden talked with the King who has asked for more time to consider the matter. The King apparently stated that he had in particular to take account of advice which he is constantly receiving from Papandreou and others. He told Churchill and Eden that according to his information there was no enthusiasm in Greece for the proposal that the Archbishop be made Regent and the King read to Churchill and Eden a telegram which he had just received from Papandreou advising him strongly against accepting the proposal regarding the regency. Churchill then asked Macmillan to send him immediately reasons for supporting this proposal, who in Greece could be expected to back it, and suggested that Macmillan should see Papandreou, Sophoulis56 and other Greek party leaders [Page 158] at once to sell them this line and urge them to address themselves in the same sense directly to the King.
- Themistocles Sophoulis, head of the Greek Liberal Party.↩