868.00/12–2744: Telegram
The Ambassador in Greece (MacVeagh) to the Secretary of State
[Received December 28—12:30 p.m.]
189. After Mr. Churchill put a number of leading Greek personalities and insurgent leaders together yesterday (see my telegram 185 of December 26, 7 p.m., to the President), and the foreigners left the Council chamber, the ensuing discussions took an acrimonious and almost violent turn on account of a fiery speech by Siantos, who claimed to speak for the people of Greece and stated that ELAS would fight for freedom for 40 years if need be. However as he reported to the British this morning, the Archbishop was finally able to get the disputants to turn to consideration of constructive measures, and he now “does not exclude” the possibility of an agreement on a government of generally respected but nonpolitical personalities, [Page 172] possibly led by Plastiras. In this connection, he felt a strictly political government to be inadvisable since it might be impossible to exclude the Communist Party, which he believes would only use its participation to sabotage constructive efforts as heretofore. On the other hand he is sure that to secure agreement on a nonpolitical government will certainly be very difficult, and he thinks that his appointment as Regent would be of great help if not absolutely prerequisite. The Leftist representatives last night definitely stated that they are in favor of a Regency, and the other representatives present all agreed. These were, besides Papandreou for the Government, the “elder statesmen,” Sophoulis, Caphandaris and Maximos, representing Liberal and Moderate Popular Party opinion, Plastiras, attending as an ex-Chief of State, the Archbishop, and Siantos, head of the Communist Party, General Mandakas, commanding ELAS, and Partsalides, Secretary General of the EAM. This morning deliberations are continuing with the addition to the above groups of the Agrarian Mylonas, the Socialist Sophianopoulos and the Royalists Tsaldaris, Petros Rallis and Spiro Theotokis. Tsaldaris and Rallis are especially ardent Royalists and will probably not agree to the Regency idea. However both Mr. Churchill and Mr. Eden have been impressed by the Archbishop and it is now being discussed at the British Embassy whether further pressure should not be put on the King to take a decision which all but a small group feel to be required if any steps whatever are to be taken towards a solution of present difficulties. Before Mr. Churchill left London he endeavored to persuade the King in this sense but the latter refused absolutely.
So far there has been no cessation of hostilities, the insurgent representatives proceeding to and from the Ministry for Foreign Affairs under safe conducts arranged by the British military while Mr. Churchill is staying on a cruiser off the Piraeus and proceeds to and from the British Embassy by armored car.