868.00/11–2645: Telegram
The Ambassador in Greece (MacVeagh) to the Secretary of State
[Received November 26—8:30 p.m.]
1355. The following communiqué was issued from the Regency last night:
His Excellency, the Ambassador of the United States, saw the Regent today, and told him that he has reasons to believe that it [Page 184] would have the most unhappy effect on public opinion in the US regarding Greece if, particularly at this moment, when the Allies are preparing to assist Greece by sending observers for her forthcoming elections, the Regent should insist upon resigning, thus contributing further to the difficult problems which all Greece’s friends are so eager to see resolved at the earliest possible date.
Therefore His Excellency made a personal and friendly appeal to His Beatitude for the sake of Greece’s interests to withdraw his resignation without any delay.
His Excellency, the Ambassador of Great Britain, also called on His Beatitude and repeated to him the earnest recommendation of his Govt to withdraw his resignation without delay.
And last, His Beatitude received another message from Mr. Bevin, transmitted by the Great [Greek] Ambassador in London in which Mr. Bevin draws His Beatitude’s attention to the consequences, which insistence on his resignation would have on Greece and to the terrible disappointment which the British people and the British Houses of Parliament would feel, should the suspense resulting from His Beatitude’s resignation be prolonged even for one more day.
Appreciating the situation and convinced that all hesitation in the matter would damage vital national interests, His Beatitude accepted to withdraw his resignation, especially as the period during which he will continue bearing the burden of his duties as Regent will be, according to his irrevocable decision, brief and more specifically will last till the time of the coming elections, already announced.