868.00/12–1744: Telegram
The Ambassador in Greece (MacVeagh) to the Secretary of State
[Received December 20—1:45 a.m.]
154. The King’s reply to his Government, received yesterday, was to the effect (see Embassy’s No. 153 December 16, 2 p.m.) that he is not convinced that a Regency is necessary. This reply appears to have been owing, at least in part, to the fact that the Cabinet’s telegram included, along with the suggestion of a council of three, a statement (unknown to the British Ambassador yesterday) that the Ministers were themselves not in favor of a regency and were making their suggestion only because the British desired such a solution. On receipt of the King’s answer, Mr. Leeper and Mr. Macmillan conferred last night with the Archbishop and Mr. Papandreou, and the last-named promised that he would telegraph the King again today stating, [Page 161] this time, that it is the Greek Government’s desire that the Regency be conferred on the Archbishop. Mr. Leeper is hopeful that this will have the desired effect, but telegrams which I understand on good authority that the King has sent to other persons here, including Mr. Caphandaris and even General Plastiras, would appear to indicate that he is once more in one of his characteristic moods of fatal indecision.
Meanwhile General Scobie has told the ELAS that there can be a cessation of hostilities only if the latter’s “regular” forces from the provinces will withdraw outside limits of Attica and the “city reserves” (about 10,000, see my 140, December 11, 3 p.m.) lay down their arms and so far ELAS has indicated willingness to accept first of these terms but has made no mention of the second while communicating a long list of grievances and counterproposals of its own. British Embassy feels that ELAS morale may be weakening though this is not apparent in the fighting. According to same source Archbishop is now inclined should he be made regent (see my 150 of December 15, noon) not to make any change in government until Scobie’s terms are accepted and thereafter to call General Plastiras to the Premiership with Sophoulis and Papandreou as Vice Premiers forming rest of Cabinet after receiving recommendations of a council of all political chiefs and resistance leaders. Mr. Leeper says that with appearance of British reinforcements the leaders of the Right here seem to be hoping that British will carry their battle for them throughout whole of Greece but he emphasized to me that British intend only to protect Athens and thereafter by all means possible to effect conciliation. He confirmed my information that trouble still seriously threatens in Salonika and Patras but that he hopes and expects it will not develop if matters here can be composed soon along lines of present effort; however ELAS forces have attacked already Indian units north of Gulf of Patras and these units have evacuated after suffering some casualties.
Repeated Caserta.