868.00/5–1247: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Embassy in Greece
717. Urtels 674 May 10, 687 May 12,1 765 May 26. You are authorized to present following views to PriMin for his private info and for whatever confidential use he considers necessary with cabinet members but not to serve as basis for any public statement.
Assure PriMin that my remarks in press conference May 7 were not meant as criticism his leadership Greek Govt. I am fully aware that his influence has been one of moderation and cooperation with us in our desire to aid Greek people and to lessen stultifying political factionalism, and I greatly appreciate his work along these lines.
In reply to PriMin’s request for clarification of US views you should point out that my remarks to press are similar to previous public statements by US officials. As President made clear in his address to Congress March 12, Greek Govt, like other Govts, is not perfect. We cannot condone its past mistakes or mistakes which it may make in the future. US desire for moderation has been made clear on [Page 182] many occasions and that desire remains today. We hope that Greek leaders will be increasingly able to subordinate short-sighted personal and political considerations to more patriotic ideal of national unity. We cannot look with favor on excesses of either extremes whether represented in the Govt or not. Although we have no intention of attempting to change Greek Cabinet or indicating our preference for individual ministers, continued presence in Cabinet of such irreconcilables as Zervas is not reassuring.
For your info we are well aware that alternative to present PriMin suggested first paragraph urtel 765 would be most unfortunate.2
- No. 687 not printed, but see footnote 2, p. 169.↩
- According to telegram 798, May 30, from Athens, Prime Minister Maximos requested that Secretary Marshall be “informed that he has been greatly touched by latter’s message. This has given him renewed courage in his efforts to carry to a successful conclusion the heavy task which has fallen on his shoulders.” (868.00/5–3047)↩