Office of the Historian

237. Telegram From the Embassy in Greece to the Department of State0

Athens, June 18, 1958, 2 p.m.

3570. 1. As King is leaving within hour for Poros for some naval affair, I was obliged to convey contents of Deptel 37301 by telephone and [Page 667] no thorough discussion was possible. He said he had impression from inner Cabinet meeting last night that GOG attitude was still somewhat flexible but hurdle of full Cabinet discussion remained. King did not refer again to public statement by US Government.

2. Re paragraph 2 of Deptel 3731,2 as I again urged prompt and flexible instructions to Greek permanent representative upon Averoff at 1 a.m. this morning, I doubt utility of repeating this again now.

Riddleberger
  1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 747C.00/6–1858. Secret; Priority; Limit Distribution. Received at 11:18 a.m. Repeated to London, Ankara, Paris for USRO, and Nicosia.↩
  2. Telegram 3730 to Athens, June 17, instructed Riddleberger to stress to the King and Queen the need for further private discussions under NATO auspices, the need for flexibility in negotiations, and that the British deferral of a parliamentary statement offered a “real opportunity” for the interested parties to begin serious negotiations. (Ibid., 747C.00/6–1458)↩
  3. Paragraph 2 of telegram 3731 to Athens, June 17, reads: “For Athens: You should in your discretion continue urge upon Greeks need for prompt, affirmative and flexible instructions to Greek PermRep.” (Ibid., 747C.00/6–1658)↩