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

4787. 1. King Constantine, blazingly angry, has just told me that neither he nor General officers control Greek army tonight. “Incredibly stupid ultra-rightwing bastards, having gained control of tanks, have brought disaster to Greece,” he said.

2. According to King, government which he swore in tonight was forced upon him after five-hour rough session with coup leaders during which he had wrung sole concession that it be headed by civilian.2 King believes Spandidakis generally aware of plan and easily agreed to go along with three officers who mounted coup (presumably those reported separately).3 King said he had contemplated shooting perpetrators [Page 583] when they came to Palace to be sworn in tonight, but concluded this would be worthless gesture as his Palace then surrounded by tanks loyal to them.

3. King is unsure of next developments. He asked how long it would take helicopters to reach Tatoi to evacuate his family if needed. He also asked whether any possibility U.S. Marines could be landed in Greece if necessary to help him and Generals reassert their control over armed forces. He expressed view Greek troops would not fire at U.S. Marines.

4. King also asked if I could make strongest démarche to his new government to insist that it not only maintain order and protect civilians who have been arrested but also strictly follow orders of King. He proposed that I say “U.S. will hold King responsible for actions of this government and government responsible to King.”

5. At King’s request we have arranged and will attempt to maintain emergency communications directly with Royal Palace at Tatoi.

6. I have just talked with General Spandidakis and Nick Farmarkis, now his aide, and have obtained immediate appointment with new Prime Minister. I will assert that I am speaking on instructions and state we look to the government to maintain order, we insist that they open up communications for stranded Americans and call strongly upon government to restore normal life as rapidly as possible. With all force we call upon government to protect detainees from physical harm, and I will assert that United States, which gives Greece much assistance, will watch developments minutely. I will also express our support for role of King as Chief of State.

7. Important to hold King’s comments closely at this time.

Talbot
  1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, POL 23–9 GREECE. Secret; Flash; Limdis. Repeated to USCINCEUR, USDOCOSouth, the Secretary of Defense, and DIA. Received at 3:59 p.m. and passed to the White House, DOD, CIA, USIA, and NSA at 4:16 p.m. Rostow forwarded the substance of this telegram to the President at 6:30 p.m. in a memorandum. (Johnson Library, National Security File, Country File, Greece, Vol. 2)
  2. King Constantine subsequently provided Talbot with a detailed account of his meetings with the coup plotters. Talbot reported this discussion in telegram 4794 from Athens, April 22. (Department of State, Central Files, POL 23–9 GREECE)
  3. Probably a reference to telegram 4767 from Athens, April 21. (Ibid.)