781.11/7–2750: Telegram
The Chargé in Greece (Minor) to the Secretary of State
302. Yesterday King spoke to me at Petalia where I went to spend day on occasion call USS Salem on King and Queen, about possibility his formal visit to US. He realized that visit this year did not seem to be practical, but he would very much like to visit US, accompanied by Queen about May 1 next year. I was noncommittal and confined myself to saying these arrangements, of course, are difficult and take a great deal time to work out, but that I would give matter consideration here and bring it to attention Department.
I note from memo conversation May 261 Department has discouraged visit this year, but has not closed door to visit in 1951. It seems to me that visit King and Queen next spring would be beneficial in Greek-American relations. In addition I hardly see how, without being downright rude, we can discourage an official visit suggested so far ahead. It would be help to Ambassador Peurifoy2 in relations with King and Queen, if he could when he comes bring definite word of Department’s approval such a visit.3 King said he realized fully that visit would depend upon Greek and world situation.
- Reference is to a memorandum of conversations of May 26 between Leonard J. Cromie, Officer in Charge, Greek Affairs, and Vassili G. Dendramis, Greek Ambassador in the United States, and of May 29 between Mr. Cromie and George Economou-Gouras, Greek Chargé in the united States, not printed (781.11/5–2650).↩
- Deputy Under Secretary of State for Administration John E. Peurifoy was nominated to serve as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Greece on July 11; confirmed by the Senate on July 29; commissioned with the advice and consent of the Senate by the President on July 29; and sworn in and entered on duty on August 11, on which date he also retired from his position as Deputy Under Secretary of State for Administration.↩
- A letter of December 7, 1950, from William M. Rountree, Director of the Office of Greek, Turkish, and Iranian Affairs, to Ambassador Peurifoy, not printed, stated that the President wished to defer the decision on further issuance of invitations to heads of state for visits to the United States in 1951 apart from those already decided on for Vincent Auriol, President of the French Republic, Queen Juliana of the Netherlands, Achmed Sukarno, President of the Republic of Indonesia, and Gaio Plaza Lasso, President of Ecuador (Athens Post Files, Lot 58F7, 361.1).↩