Foreign Relations of the United States, 1969–1976, Volume XXIX, Eastern Europe; Eastern Mediterranean, 1969–1972

266. Letter From the Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs (Nutter) to the Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern and South Asian Affairs (Sisco)¹

Washington, January 12, 1970.

Dear Joe:

Now that Ambassador Henry Tasca has arrived in Athens,² I consider it appropriate that we initiate the necessary steps toward full resumption of military assistance to Greece, so that we are prepared for immediate supply of important items once the President sees the Ambassadorʼs report on the Papadopoulos regimeʼs attitude toward reform.

There are several factors which I deem important enough to warrant this preliminary work by our staffs:

(a) The overriding US security interests in Greece;

(b) Greeceʼs undiminished role in NATO (value of major military equipment currently suspended is $52.6 million);

(c) The effect of the suspension policy on the combat capability of the Greek forces committed to NATO; and

(d) The paucity of MAP funds, requiring their use for valid military requirements instead of payment for storage and maintenance costs arising out of the suspension policy.

I therefore recommend that appropriate action officers in State and Defense initiate the first necessary steps toward full resumption of military assistance to Greece without further delay. The first actions would involve the selection of the initial items to be removed from the embargo when the new gradual policy actually begins to operate.

Sincerely,

G. Warren Nutter ³

1. Source: Washington National Records Center, RG 330, OASD/ISA Subject Files: FRC 330 73 A 1971, Greece 000.1, 1970. Secret; Eyes Only.
2. Tasca presented his credentials on January 15.
3. Printed from a copy that bears this stamped signature.