Foreign Relations of the United States, 1951, The Near East and Africa, Volume V

781.00/3–2151: Telegram

The Secretary of State to the Embassy in Greece ¹

secret

Washington, March 29, 1951—7 p. m.

3488. Re Embtel 3098 March 21.² Dept keenly interested Venizelos statement Liberal–EPEK merger may become real possibility.

This development may present opportunity effect basic improvement in Grk polit sitn by promoting polarization “nationalist” parties in traditional pattern comprising principally Venizelist groups on one hand and parties Populist derivation on other. Indications of at least temporary abandonment Papagos solution by Palace seems whole-some development this direction. Nevertheless, irrespective merits reconstituting Populist Party, involvement Palace in movement mend Populist Party might be interpreted as partisan effort restore power and influence traditional source royalist strength and might therefore have dangerous implications (re last sentence penultimate para Embtel 3098).

EPEK–Liberal merger might be advantageous in

(1) accelerating latent tendencies toward consolidation “nationalist” parties into two camps. This wld avoid split in Grk polit life along Right–Left lines.

(2) providing govt with absolute Parliamentary majority (assuming Papandreou induced adhere to govt), thus eliminating necessity natl elections near future. Notwithstanding Venizelos’ difficulties with Papandreou Dept has noted reports which tend indicate Papandreou might eventually participate in efforts bring together all former Venizelist factions.

(3) Enhancing prospects Parliamentary adoption majority system in event natl elections required.

Dept recognizes merger EPEK and Liberals wld require solution various difficult personality problems and perhaps frequent sympathetic advice from Emb. Nevertheless moment may have arrived when US shld actively but discreetly encourage consolidation present polit parties and acceptance majority election system. Dept recognizes such course involves serious problems such as possible reaction left wing of EPEK, position of presumably non-communist Left such as Sophianopoulos and Svolos, as well as an examination in light Grk and US interests of consequences revitalization Populist party and possibility Populist dominated govt in event new elections. …

Emb’s views requested.³

Acheson

1. Drafted by Norbert L. Anschuetz, officer in charge of Greek Affairs. Cleared with William Rountree, Director of GTI.
2. Not printed; it reported that Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sophocles Venizelos had informed Ambassador Peurifoy that he was exploring the possibility of bringing about “in very near future” a merger of the Liberal and EPEK Parties and a consequent new government based upon this union. According to Venizelos’ plan general elections would be held in August. The telegram also recalled for the Department’s information that such a union had been envisaged ever since the March 1950 general elections, and that “Many of most influential deputies in both parties have long favored this move.” A number of speeches advancing the idea had recently been made by leading figures in both parties, and the Embassy intended to seek out General Plastiras and other EPEK leaders shortly to determine how serious was this “long-mooted scheme.” (781.00/3–2151)
3. Telegram 3766 from Athens, May 5, reported that it was now expected that the Greek Parliament would be prorogued until August at which time it would be called back into session briefly to proclaim elections unless the international situation was such as to preclude such a move. It also reported that a Parliamentary commission was currently studying an alternative electoral system but that final decision on this matter might well be postponed until August and that Venizelos had stated that endeavors to merge EPEK and Liberal Parties had foundered on the insistence by General Plastiras that he assume the office of Prime Minister and the King’s refusal to accept him in that capacity. (781.00/5–551)