868.01/12–2844: Telegram
The Ambassador in Greece (MacVeagh) to the Secretary of State
[Received December 30—11:33 a.m.]
196. My 193, December 28, 2 p.m. The difficulties which the Archbishop will have to face should he be appointed Regent may be judged by certain demands whose acceptance was stated by the Leftist members at yesterday’s meeting of the conference to be prerequisite to the disbanding of ELAS. These terms as reported by the Secretariat of the conference in a communiqué published this morning by General Scobie’s HQ are as follows:
- 1.
- Participation of “the Extreme Left” in the Government to the extent of 40 to 50 per cent.
- 2.
- “The Extreme Left” to be given the Ministries of Interior and Justice and Under Ministries of War and Foreign Affairs.
- 3.
- Demobilization of gendarmerie.
- 4.
- Demobilization of Mountain Brigade, Sacred Squadron and new National Guard battalions.
- 5.
- A plebiscite on first Sunday in February.
- 6.
- Elections for a Constituent Assembly in April.
The communiqué goes on to say that there was no discussion of these demands but that both General Plastiras and representatives of the Popular Party took occasion to brand them as inacceptable [Page 177] and the latter left the meeting before adjournment as a sign of protest.
Why it was thought fit to publish the above details at all this time or at least to do so without explanation that they are not matters for discussion unless and until the Regency is established is not known. Certainly the publication has created an unfortunate impression in Athens that the conference which has only been adjourned sine die has already ended in failure just at the moment too when Mr. Churchill and his advisers are feeling hopeful of its eventually proving a success.