Foreign Relations of the United States, 1964–1968, Volume XVI, Cyprus; Greece; Turkey

274. Telegram From the Embassy in Greece to the Department of State¹

Athens, April 21, 1967, 1610Z.

4769. 1. Margaret Papandreou’s father, Mr. Chant, and her friend Mrs. Schacter, came into the Embassy for the second time today and were received by Amb.²

2. They referred to fact Article 18 of Constitution (which forbids executions for political crimes) and fact rumors exist that some of political prisoners might be disposed of before morning. Under these circumstances they, as well as Margaret, are acutely apprehensive about Andreas’ fate. They also referred to fact that Margaret and her children are American citizens and inquired whether Ambassador was in position to give any particular guidance concerning their actions.

3. Amb said Emb had been following situation as closely as we could but that our information still extremely limited by inaccessibility of persons involved, fact telephonic communications had been cut, and that circulation in city had been prohibited. He informed them he had already conveyed to Greek military (Athens 4753)³ his conviction that bloodshed and violence would not only have most unfortunate implications for evolution of the Greek situation but could be expected produce serious repercussions outside of Greece, especially in US. Amb. observed we had been informed that King had not in fact signed emergency decree suspending certain articles of Constitution and that as far as we aware meeting between King and senior military officers still continuing. This suggests to us serious disagreement does in fact exist.

4. Chant and Schacter appeared highly skeptical that coup may have been staged without King’s approval. Chant commented if Andreas were executed there would without question be revolution in which many people would lose their lives. He said that in light seriousness situation Margaret believed some word of admonition from Pres. Johnson would be appropriate.

5. Ambassador expressed sympathy for their anxieties regarding personal safety of Andreas. He again assured them US has and would by every means discourage Greek military leaders from any resort to violence or bloodshed and to an appreciation of serious damage which would result both within Greece and in Greece’s relations with other countries.

6. Comment: Ambassador has in fact instructed all official American representatives seeking establish contact on various levels with Greek military to emphasize that bloodshed will make an already tragically complicated situation infinitely more so.⁴

Talbot

1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, POL 23–9 GREECE. Confidential. Received at 12:36 p.m.
2. Telegram 4740 from Athens, April 21, reported that Mrs. Papandreou, her son George, her father, and another person had come to the Embassy to report the seizure of Andreas and George Papandreou. (Ibid.)
3. Document 273.
4. In telegram 4841 from Athens, April 23, the Embassy reported it had “made numerous inquiries to determine welfare of both Papandreous” and to ensure they were unharmed. It was also ready to “extend protection” to the Papandreou family although it did not believe such action would be necessary. (Department of State, Central Files, POL 29 GREECE)