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

282. Memorandum From the Presidentʼs Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger) to President Nixon¹

Washington, undated.

SUBJECT

• Your Talk with Ambassador Tasca—Wednesday, June 17

Background. You decided in principle last November² to resume normal military shipments to Greece but asked Ambassador Tasca to work out the delicate relationship between resumption and Greeceʼs return to constitutional government. This relationship is important in blunting liberal criticism in NATO and in our Congress.

Ambassador Tasca has sent you a report³ (in your NSC book) recommending that Prime Minister Papadopoulos be told that your decision to resume has been made and that actual shipments will begin as soon as we are in a position to claim Congressional support. He believes the government can then be encouraged to continue toward elections.

Secretary Rogers came back from the Rome NATO meeting feeling that implementation of the Tasca report should be delayed because of the strong feeling against Greece in NATO capitals.

The tactical issue is how to stage resumption so as not to trigger a sharp reaction in NATO capitals or a further attack on the Foreign Military Sales Act.

• —Many in State argue that we must wait until both the authorization act and the appropriation have passed.
• —Tasca is arguing that we move as soon as the Hartke amendment to the act is voted on and, presumably, defeated. [This would prohibit aid to Greece. Tasca argues that we should interpret its defeat as a Congressional green light and quietly go ahead.]⁴ He feels, as far as NATO is concerned, that we just have to argue hard the importance of Greece to maintaining a strong US–NATO position in the Eastern Mediterranean.

Ambassador Tasca has been working while here on an interdepartmental memo to you detailing a plan for carrying out his proposal, including a message from you to Prime Minister Papadopoulos. This memo should come to you in a few days and will be useful in preparing your decision memorandum.

The points to make to Tasca today are:⁵

1. You still favor early resumption, as you told him last November.

2. You will want to hear Secretary Rogersʼ views on Congressional and NATO opinion but will make a decision in a few days.

3. You will clear a reply to Prime Minister Papadopoulos as soon as you get the inter-departmental memo.

The points to make at the NSC ⁶ are:

1. Greece is increasingly important, given Soviet pressures in the Eastern Mediterranean.

2. You will be making a decision on this issue shortly and would like to have the inter-departmental memo this week.

1. Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 593, Country Files—Middle East, Greece, Vol. I Jan 69–Oct 70. Secret. Sent for information and action. A notation on the memorandum indicates the President saw it. According to a June 16 memorandum from Saunders to Kissinger: “Ambassador Tasca has received word—presumably from Secretary Rogers—that the President would like to see him ‘some time after Thursday.’ The Ambassador is not pressing this, but of course wishes to do what the President would like. He does feel that he should get back to Athens quickly since he is without a DCM right now and the embassy is in the hands of the second team.” Saunders suggested that the President speak briefly with Tasca after the June 17 NSC meeting. (Ibid.)
2. See Document 262.
3. Document 273.
4. Brackets in the original. The Subcommittee on Europe and the Middle East of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee adopted this amendment to the Foreign Military Sales Act of 1971 banning sales to Greece. The amendment was defeated in the Senate on June 29, 50–42.
5. A note attached to the memorandum reads: “Mr. President—Henry wants the following item added to the points you should make to Amb. Tasca: ʼYou want him to return to Greece immediately. You do not think it advisable that he appear before the Senate For. Relations Committee.ʼ a. 2:30 p.m.” (National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 593, Country Files, Middle East, Greece, Vol. I, Jan 69–Oct 70)
6. See Document 283.