Foreign Relations of the United States, 1948, Eastern Europe; The Soviet Union, Volume IV

868.002/11–1348: Telegram

The Ambassador in Greece (Grady) to the Secretary of State

confidential
us urgent

Athens, November 13, 1948—11 a. m.

2303. On behalf Sophoulis, Mavrogordatos has asked whether US continues favor Liberal–Populist coalition¹ and our views concerning appointment Papagos as Commander-in-Chief (see my immediately preceding telegram²).

We are informing Mavrogordatos that US inclined favor continuance Populist–Liberal coalition government with such changes as may be necessary to obtain Parliamentary majority and that we have no objections to appointment Papagos as Commander-in-Chief provided authority granted him does not permit assumption dictatorial powers with unwarranted infringement civil liberties and press freedom.

King is seeing Tsaldaris at 11 this morning.³

Sent Department 2303, repeated Paris for USDel as 249.

Grady

1. The Greek Government resigned on November 12 (telegram 2291, November 12, noon, from Athens, 868.00/11–1248).
2. No. 2302, not printed.
3. A new Liberal–Populist coalition government was sworn in on November 18, Messrs. Sophoulis and Tsaldaris retaining their previous positions (telegram 2355, November 18, from Athens, 868.002/11–1848).