868.00/5–549: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Embassy in Greece
682. Embtel 897 May 5. On basis info available here, it wld seem King takes unnecessarily alarmist view polit and mil situation which may arise partly from feeling he personally involved in ill-founded charges directed against Palace favorites Papagos and Markezinis. This connection, however, wld appreciate elucidation ur statement re Berry report on “unsatisfactory situation in polit mil field”.
Changes in Grk Govt indicated reftel prior termination Congressional mil aid hearings, which begin May 23, wld have most undesirable effect and we earnestly hope all concerned will cooperate to avoid such change. It wld be particularly difficult explain crisis provoked by King rather than by Parliament and leading to solution which wld [Page 315] eliminate major and powerful Populist Party, place Populists in opposition, and possibly lead to unconstitutional developments.
Rountree1 arriving May 10 with verbal message from Grady along foregoing lines. Meanwhile suggest you discuss situation with Brit Amb who may wish see King.
- William M. Rountree, Special Assistant to Ambassador Grady.↩