868.00/12–2844: Telegram
The Ambassador in Greece (MacVeagh) to the Secretary of State
[Received 2:15 p.m.]
193. According to British Embassy Mr. Churchill is leaving for London today accompanied by Eden after having told his advisers here that he had come to conclusion that they are perfectly right in their estimate of situation and that he intends to tell King that he must appoint the Archbishop Regent without further delay. In addition Papandreou promised British last night that he would immediately telegraph King to following effect:
- 1.
- Political conference initiated here by Churchill (see my 189, December 27) voted unanimously yesterday afternoon for establishment of a Regency under the Archbishop;
- 2.
- All but the representatives of the Popular Party voted that Regency should be set up at once. Popular Party members voted it should be set up only after cessation of hostilities lest it appear as a concession to the insurgents;
- 3.
- He, Papandreou, voted for immediate appointment of Archbishop.
As situation now stands the political conference has been adjourned and nothing further will be done here until Regency matter is settled. Archbishop will not discuss at present the panel he has in mind for the formation of a nonpolitical or what British Ambassador calls a “caretaker” government but he has apparently already made some soundings and feels that he can gather a representative group together which will be sufficiently to the Left to have the confidence of EAM [Page 176] while none of the professional politicians who will not like being left out retains sufficient influence in the country at large to make their objections dangerous.