781.00/2–2552: Telegram
The Ambassador in Greece (Peurifoy) to the Secretary of State, at Lisbon1
niact
1. Ref Lisbon’s 7 Feb 23.2
(1) Venizelos … misrepresented situation to you. Both Emb and MSA/G have done everything imaginable to help present govt function successfully on both econ and polit fronts. Govt’s repeated failures, hesitation and even apparently deliberate stalling caused us to make repeated representation to govt leaders. Unfortunate for governmental sensibilities they permitted news of these meetings to leak. Naturally they were distorted and played up by opposition press to govt’s detriment.
Further in view of Govt’s dismal showing its thin parliament majority and general uneasiness throughout country Emb felt it essential to examine possible alternatives to present recent coalition. Not to do so wld certainly have been remiss. We have been most careful to give no indication of favoritism for any particular party or group of parties and I am confident any reasonable witness wld certify to our absolute public impartiality. Hence Venizelos suggestion of statement by Emb appears unnecessary … especially in view my press statement before leaving US to effect that Greek people and not US Emb chooses Greek Govt.
(2) Liberal-Rally coalition which we had hoped for as eventual outgrowth of current confusion now seems virtually ruled out as Venizelos disclosure to King of his secret mtg with Papagos has confirmed Bally leaders doubts as to Venizelos dependability. Further leading Liberals realizing precariousness of their present position and minor roles they wld play in harness with Papagos have made it clear to Venizelos that they wld not support alliance with Greek Rally. Consequently we are re-examining situation but frankly see little hope of substantial improvement other than through elections.
(3) In Kitrilakis affair Venizelos has been of no help.… Govt’s or more properly Palace’s intervention in Grk Army far bigger problem than mere dismissal of one Lt Gen. For example govt insisted on exploiting idea affair for purely partisan reasons and only yesterday King’s man and Chief of Army Staff Tsakalotos told Hart he was proposing important changes for a score or more senior officers. It is also clear that Defense Min Sakellariou who is simply Palace rep [Page 272] in present govt is determined to purge high command of pro-Papagos officers. It seems also likely that when Sakellariou has finished Plastiras plans purge of his own.
(4) Release of Commie prisoners bears no relationship to Lib-EPEK agreement on quite reasonable draft leniency law which has not yet been introduced in Parliament. As even Venizelos well knows only gauge of leniency law is its implementation. Our concern here has been with nonchalance with which govt has released Commie exiles on indefinite furloughs and ease with which number of seemingly dangerous Commies have been freed by examining comites….
I hope you will have another opportunity to tell Venizelos of our concern and perhaps to warn him that an army adversely affected by polit interference might not be most effective user of American aid. You might also remind him that we still hope for an able and stable Grk Govt which his cooperation might greatly facilitate.3
- This telegram was repeated to the Department of State as 3873 (the source text).↩
- Not printed. It transmitted a summary account of that portion of the Acheson–Venizelos conversation of Feb. 23 dealing with the political crisis in Greece; for Secretary Acheson’s memorandum of the entire conversation, see p. 147. (Conference files, lot 59 D 95, CF 102)↩
- Telegram 12, Feb. 26, from Lisbon to Athens, repeated to the Department of State as 406, reported that this message had reached Lisbon too late for the Secretary to see Venizelos before leaving for Washington. (740.5/2–2652)↩