President Roosevelt to the King of the Hellenes (George II)76
I have been profoundly distressed, and I know how anxious you must be about the situation which has arisen in Greece. We are not directly involved in this matter and are anxious not to intrude ourselves into the internal affairs of Greece or of any other of our liberated allies. We have welcomed your statements and those of your Government assuring the Greek people that they shall have full opportunity to pronounce themselves as to their future form of government, and we have had full confidence that these pledges would be carried out. Unhappily, however, it seems evident from the reports which I receive from Greece that there is still widespread confusion on this issue within the country. Whether or not this confusion has been deliberately spread by your opponents, it would seem to constitute a very real problem which must be disposed of if unity and order are to be restored. I am reluctant at this distance from the scene to offer what may appear to be gratuitous advice, but it has seemed to me increasingly clear that only a courageous and patriotic action on your part could restore confidence and clear the way for successful negotiations. The great love we Americans bear for Greece emboldens me, therefore, to express our hope that you will give favorable consideration to the recommendations which I understand have been made to you for the naming of the Archbishop as Regent of the Crown in Greece. It seems to me that this action might be particularly efficacious if it were accompanied by a reaffirmation of your intentions and by an assurance that elections will be held at some fixed date, no matter how far in the future.
My heartfelt sympathy goes to you in these difficult and unhappy days.
- Copy of telegram obtained from the Franklin D. Roosevelt Library, Hyde Park, N.Y. Drafted in the Department of State.↩