Foreign Relations of the United States, 1964–1968, Volume XVI, Cyprus; Greece; Turkey

280. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in Greece¹

Washington, April 24, 1967, 8:47 p.m.

181462. Your 4898.²

1. We concur in continuation normal working relations with GOC at sub-ministerial level and that JUSMAG should pursue its normal contacts except for forward planning. We query need for long range planning at the moment and suggest that reluctance to engage in this might be advantageous tactic for us at this time.

2. We also concur that we like the King will need a modus vivendi with this Government but believe that establishment of ours should await establishment of his.

3. With regard to high level contacts we believe that for the moment these should be restricted to purpose of gathering information rather than for substantive discussion of future course GOG.

4. We entirely concur in your suggestions as to points we might put forward as basis our willingness to work with this regime but believe that we should hold off on going to bargaining table for moment, leaving it to King to press for broadening basis of Government. We hope that he will work to decrease extensive security measures now in force and continue encourage men of stature and ability to come into Government.

5. We anticipate increasing Congressional and public disapproval of association with this regime, to say nothing of collaboration with it, and that its use of MAP equipment in staging coup will be particularly sore point.

Katzenbach

1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, POL 15 GREECE. Secret; Limdis; Noforn. Drafted by Rockwell, cleared by Katzenbach, and approved by Battle. Repeated to Bonn for Secretary Rusk as Tosec 26.
2. Telegram 4898 from Athens, April 24, requested guidance on policy toward the Greek regime and outlined the Embassy’s views on that policy. (Ibid.)