868.00/10–1146: Telegram
The Ambassador in Greece (MacVeagh) to the Secretary of State
[Received October 12—11:35 p.m.]
1384. In a long conversation with the King this afternoon I was able to make the following suggestions on the purely personal and informal basis which he seems to invite and appreciate:
(1) That the King should insist on the political leaders getting together to form a broadly representative govt and that the possibility of his personally advising the public of any opposition to his appeal might be enough to bring recalcitrants into line; (2) that unity among all nationally minded Greeks is as important now as collaboration among the politicians and that in the country’s present dearth of statesmen, only the crown’s leadership can bring this about; (3) that [Page 234] the only practicable curative program for this country after what it has gone through is one of widespread tolerance, justice and mercy similar to the program of Lincoln after the American Civil War; (4) that in pursuance of such a program all people who have “gone into the mountains” except those subject to definite charges under the Greek code should be allowed to return freely to their homes; (5) that wives and children of fugitives should no longer be imprisoned and exiled as hostages; (6) that in general every Greek should be allowed his or her political opinions and no one be prosecuted except for definite commission of crime. I emphasized my belief that if such program were put into effect at least 70% of the existing banditry in Greece would disappear. I spoke of my belief that certain policies of the present Defense Minister, Mavromichalis, may be “tending toward Fascism” which I felt could not be tolerated again after the Allied Nations have fought a war for its eradication; and I added that whether or not the policy I suggested is the right solution for the present problems I felt sure that in following it the King would have the satisfaction of the approval of his own conscience.
Somewhat to my surprise the King expressed thorough agreement with each one of the above points. In regard to (1) he said he has already sounded out the politicians and found all of them agreeable to the idea of collaboration in a broadened govt except Sophoulis who holds out for being Premier. He said he had approved of the politicians going to Paris because they might learn there some things to convince them of the necessity of getting together as well as of the fact that Greek “national claims” must be considered as part of the whole great problem of world peace. Regarding (2) he accepted the idea and showed no tendency to shirk the responsibility of the Crown and in respect to (3) and (4) indicated that he had already thought of attempting to follow the Lincoln example. As to (5) he was emphatic in stating his belief that the present policy only tends to increase bitterness by the addition of resentment and in connection with (6) assented warmly and fully as to this being the general need of the hour. In addition he was impressed by my estimate of the number of non-criminal elements in the band [land?] and said of Mr. Mavromichalis that “He is an old playmate of my youth but I think him stupid.” Fascism he agreed is no longer a possible solution adding “Dictatorship never agreed with my ideas and I made a mistake to fall in with it.”
In comment I would point out that the King spoke as I did purely personally, that he is a lonely and distracted figure and that his happily good intentions are not likely to find much support from the local influences surrounding him (see mytel 1304 of September 2897). [Page 235] I therefore intend to communicate the substance of my conversation to my British colleague who in his first audience received only the formal assurance that the King “will act constitutionally” and the impression that he is resentful toward the British for having kept him out of Greece these past 2 years. This last is probably true but the British can afford to ignore it and I believe that if they will only make full use now of their position here to strengthen the King’s hand in an all-out effort to liberalize the Govt and unify behind the regime all but the criminal and subversive elements in the country, there is a chance to reduce greatly the dangers of Slavic infiltration and Communist activity and consequently to favor the economic reconstruction now so greatly hampered by widespread dissension and fear. However the time to make use of the King’s possibilities as a unifying and constructive agent is now while he still retains some adventitious popularity as a result of his return by the plebiscite. After he has been seen for a while to do nothing or is felt to be falling under the influence of some local group it will be too late.
The Department will appreciate the highly confidential character of this message.98
Sent to Department as 1384; repeated Paris for Secretary as 99.
- Not printed.↩
- In telegram 1350, October 16, 1946, 5 p.m., Mr. Acheson replied to Ambassador MacVeagh as follows: “I wish to commend you highly for your approach to King. Your ideas expressed to him show profound understanding complicated Greek situation and represent finest kind US advice to head friendly Allied state whose future is of extreme concern this Govt. You should seek early opportunity inform King that you have reported substance your conversation your Govt which is in full agreement with ideas expressed and gratified learn King’s attitude towards specific problems discussed.” (868.00/10–1146)↩