868.00/4–1346: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Chargé in Greece (Rankin)
404. Embtel 500 Apr 13.77 The following exchange of questions and answers took place at my press conference today:
“Q. I understand that Ambassador Grady has returned to this country. Would you care to give us any information he may have brought you beyond that contained in the summary of his report to the President?
A. Ambassador Grady’s comments to the Dept are that after having been deprived of the privilege of voting for ten years the Greek people in general displayed a very keen desire to participate in the election and he states that on the whole, conditions of order and calm prevailed on election day.
Q. Did the Ambassador bring any additional information on the question of when the plebiscite on the return of the King is to be held?
A. No, the report of the Allied Mission recommends that before the opinion of the Greek people is again sought on matters of national import a new census should be taken and a complete revision of the registration lists made. I said in my last press conference, in response to a question, that I considered the question of the timing of the plebiscite one for decision by the Greek Government. I have nothing to add to it. I think that it is a problem which is so serious it should be approached without any undue haste and only when steps have been taken to make some progress in the restoration of Greek economy. Of course that is a matter which the government of Greece must determine.”
- Not printed.↩