868.00/8–1447
Governor Dwight P. Griswold to the Coordinator for Aid to Greece and Turkey (McGhee)1
Dear George: I was invited by the Prime Minister to visit with him at six o’clock last Wednesday evening. He immediately plunged [Page 295] into a discussion of possible political changes and alterations which might be made in the Greek Cabinet to assist in bringing greater unity to Greece and strengthening their government in its relations both with the mass of Greek people and with the people of the United States. He stated that he wished to discuss these matters with me personally and quite candidly and that the conversation would be entirely confidential. I at once advised him that I was neither properly qualified nor authorized to speak authoritatively on Greek political matters—that those subjects were within the province of the Ambassador. I told him, however, that I was willing to discuss the subject but he should understand that I was speaking personally and not as a representative of the United States Government.
We discussed many of the leading figures in Greece—Zervas, Plastiris, Tsaldaris, the Archbishop, etc. It is not necessary to state in this letter what the discussion involved but I do want to report that in my judgment the door is now wide open to get some things done which seemingly are the desire of the United States Government. Some of these matters were referred to and approved in the confidential letter to me of July 11. That letter, however, uses such words as “gradually” and “discreet suggestion.” I feel, however, that the time has come when some of these things can discreetly and rather easily be accomplished by proper action on the part of the United States. I do not feel that everything can be accomplished by political changes but it is the opinion of every qualified American with whom I have visited in Greece that much good can thus be accomplished. The point I wish to make is that our plan of action must be formulated immediately and put into effect within the next week or ten days. The decisions by the Greek leaders will be made probably very soon after the return of Mr. Tsaldaris from the United States.
The morning after my discussion with the Prime Minister I described the entire conversation to Ambassador MacVeagh. He seemingly is as anxious as anyone to have certain changes made but he continues to use such words as “gradually” and “we of course must not interfere” to such an extent that I feel somewhat alarmed. Candidly, I am fearful that the present opportunity will not be grasped. For instance, he discussed the possibility of moving Zervas to another ministry, giving Tsaldaris the opportunity to continue to use him as a member of his coalition. In my judgment Zervas needs to be forced clear out of the government and I think it would be a distinct advantage from our standpoint to have him in the “opposition.” I feel he is making more Communists than he is eliminating. Time is slipping away and I feel the present opportunity should be firmly grasped. In my judgment we do not need to be affected by a fear that we will [Page 296] be accused of “interfering.” That accusation will be made even if we do nothing.
I realize that my judgment is based on a very brief acquaintance with this situation and I will have to admit that I cannot logically argue with anyone because my information is not soundly based. I am relying, however, upon the opinion of American newspaper correspondents and other Americans who have been in Greece for many, many years. They are seemingly unanimously of the opinion that much good can be accomplished by positive action on our part.
The implications of the Prime Minister’s call and conversation are that today he and the leaders of Greece are looking to the United States for more than mere advice—they are searching for a decision.
Sincerely yours,
- Received in the Department on August 14.↩