371. Memorandum From the President’s Special Assistant for National Security Affairs (Rostow) to President Johnson1
SUBJECT
- Partial Resumption of Military Shipments to Greece
Attached is Nick Katzenbach’s recommendation2 that you release about 40% of the equipment we’ve held in suspense since the April 1967 coup. Most of the items to be released would be replacement items for the air force and navy, though there would be some tank ammo and heavy guns. We would continue to hold the tanks and new F–5 aircraft.
The main argument is that the time has come to separate our NATO relationship from our disapproval of domestic Greek politics. The colonels have had their constitutional referendum, but they won’t hold elections under it until they’re ready. We can keep prodding them, but we can’t make them. Meanwhile, it doesn’t make sense to let our security relationships with Greece—NATO role, commo facilities, Sixth Fleet support—deteriorate further.
A vocal group on the Hill will object to any resumption. You have already had letters from Congressmen Edwards and Fraser, who are active with Melina Mercouri and other friends of Greek democracy. But if you approve, Nick plans to consult with key members—before telling the Greeks but after the foreign aid appropriation—and lay it on the line that we can’t let our interests suffer further. He feels now is the time to face these people with the facts of the problem and tell them we have to move. He would like to do this before they go home.
The rationale for releasing only 40% is to keep some pressure on the colonels and to put ourselves on a more reasonable policy footing while leaving your successor room to move either way. I believe Nick is right that we’ve about run our course on the suspension. The question is whether you want to begin correcting course yourself.