300. Memorandum From Secretary of State Rusk to President Johnson1
SUBJECT
- Your Meeting with King Constantine of Greece
King Constantine is coming to Washington at his request.2 While the main purpose of his visit is to explain the aims of the Greek Government which came to power in the April 21, 1967 coup and to obtain U.S. understanding and support for the Government, at the same time he will seek Presidential assurances of U.S. backing in any confrontation he might [Page 633] have with the Greek junta. The King views his role as one of continuously pressing the coup leaders in the direction of a return to democratic processes. He also believes that his standing with the junta, as well as Greek-U.S. relations, will be enhanced by the resumption of U.S. military assistance to Greece. The very fact that you have agreed to receive him will strengthen his position with the Government.
We share the King’s view that he can play a constructive role in encouraging the Greek Government in the direction of constitutionalism. However, we believe we should caution him against pushing the regime to the point of provoking a confrontation, since we do not want to see armed conflict in Greece and would not wish to intervene militarily in his behalf. We realize that walking such a narrow line is a difficult course to follow, and believe that the visit offers the occasion to reassure the 27-year old King of our recognition of the importance of the monarchy as well as our appreciation of his vital role in returning the country to constitutionalism. On military assistance, we believe that you should inform the King that full resumption of MAP is out of the question at this time because of strong public and Congressional sentiment against such a move; however, we are prepared to consider releasing a few of the items now currently suspended. In this way we can bolster the King’s position vis-à-vis the coup leadership as well as prevent our own relations with the Greek Government from becoming frozen.
In sum, we believe that the visit of the King can serve a useful purpose in making clear our profound desire for continued close relations with Greece as well as our belief in the necessity for an early return to constitutional government. It also provides an opportunity to reassure the King of our support for him and at the same time to discourage him from moving into a confrontation with the junta.
- Source: Department of State, Briefing Book Files: Lot 69 D 553, Visit of King Constantine. Secret. Talking points for the President’s meeting with the King were attached but are not printed.↩
- King Constantine had been scheduled to make a good will tour of Europe and Canada. Following the April coup, the Western European portion of the tour was cancelled. Telegram 589 from Athens, July 30, reported that the King hoped to utilize some of the days originally scheduled for Europe to make an informal visit to the United States and had requested a meeting with the President. (Ibid., Central Files, POL 7 GREECE) President Johnson approved an invitation on August 4. (Johnson Library, National Security File, Country File, Greece, King Constantine) Telegram 876 from Athens, August 18, reported that the King had expressed the desire for a private meeting with the President to discuss Cyprus and internal Greek developments. (Department of State, Central Files, POL 7 GREECE)↩