868.00/6–2448
Governor Dwight P. Griswold to the Director of the Office of Near Eastern and African Affairs (Henderson)
Dear Loy: If you could be in Greece now and feel the real optimism based largely on recent military successes, I am sure you would be amazed and likewise pleased. I am hoping that the present fighting will have a most successful result although we may not know for several weeks as there is much rugged country to be fought over.
This letter may sound somewhat pessimistic but I am sure that no matter how successful are the military operations, the troubles in Greece will not thereby come to an end. A more basic trouble in this country is the lack of a strong governmental system and the lack of strong leaders in the political arena. I am quite fearful that if the communist danger is considerably alleviated because of military successes that there will be an increase in the amount of fighting between the non-Communist political leaders. Under those conditions, it may be more difficult to maintain the Populist-Liberal coalition and it is even possible that there will be greater rebellion against the leaders within the parties.
I am writing this letter particularly because I understand that Mr. Grady is in Washington and you will undoubtedly be talking over such matters with him.1 His political problems in Greece may be increased rather than decreased by successful military operations. My own judgment is that you can not build a government on the rightist parties and establish peace and quiet in Greece. There is too much of a tendency in those groups to carry on a “blood-feud” against all Greeks who do not agree with them politically. That type of thinking could easily create new Communists and lead to further trouble in the rather near future.
I realize that to fight communism a government must be strong, but it is easier to make that fight under leaders whose economic, social and political beliefs are a little to the left rather than those who are ultra rightists. I know it is difficult to maintain the proper balance, but I am sure that if the Greek rightist parties are ‘allowed to follow their own desires they will keep this country in turmoil indefinitely.
In my opinion, it is very important that U.S. representatives in Greece try to build up the leadership of moderate and intelligent liberals to neutralize the prestige which goes to the rightist groups because of their larger voting strength. I hope that elections can be [Page 113] held in Greece some time fairly soon. They certainly could hold municipal elections and also it might be possible to have election of members of Parliament in a great many areas. Those elections may not particularly change the parliamentary lineup, but whether or not, I feel my diagnosis above is still proper.
I think the enclosed editorial from “Eleftheria”2 (left center) will be interesting in connection with the above.
Sincerely yours,