781.00/6–2450: Telegram

The Secretary of State to the Embassy in Greece 1

secret

1292. Embtel 1535 June 24.2 While it is understandably irritating to Grks that Yugos consider it necessary allude to Grk slavophones and that Brit consider it necessary adopt obdurate position on Cyprus, fact is that neither Yugo nor Cyprus constitute immed problems for Greece. Under existing circumstances there is no likelihood Yugos cld oblige Grks yield territorial or other concessions against their will. There is also little likelihood that Grks wld be able induce UK yield sovereignty over Cyprus or that Greece wld be stronger externally or internally if they did so. There is however likelihood that USSR efforts acquire effective sovereignty over Greece will be furthered if Grks persist in concentrating on non-essentials which facilitate Russ propaganda and tend to alienate actual and potential allies.

In our opinion, Grks wld be exceedingly well advised to formulate all aspects their fon policy in terms of their number one problem, which is survival of Greece as a free nation. In present critical position, Greece cannot afford luxury of fon policy directed towards future nationalist goals and dictated by current popular emotions. Dept will not be impressed, moreover, by references to Grk “public agitation” until it sees more evidence of Govt effort to calm that agitation and put Grk public in more realistic frame of mind. Govt statements on Yugo have, for example, not served to put matter in proper perspective but rather to fan flames of popular indignation. Similarly, there is no info that Grk Govt has exercised undoubted influence over Cypriot ethnarchy to check enosis3 agitation at its source (and, FYI, we suspect it has done contrary).

While Grks are certainly free to discuss privately with Brit any matter of mutual interest, effect of public approach at this time wld be [Page 379] excite Grk opinion still further with corresponding greater let down when no results forthcoming.

US is trying to keep Grks afloat in sea of current difficulties and guide them into relatively safe harbor. It cannot do so if Grks continue to exhaust themselves and embarrass us by heading for such distant shores as Cyprus.

At ur discretion you may bring substance foregoing to attn Politis.

Acheson
  1. Repeated to London as 3151, Nicosia as 41, and Belgrade as 512.
  2. Not printed; in it the Chargé in Greece, Harold B. Minor, reported that John Politis, Permanent Under Secretary for Foreign Affairs, had told him on June 23 about his concern with problems relating to Yugoslavia and Cyprus (781.00/6–2450).
  3. Union of Cyprus with Greece.