Office of the Historian

277. Letter From the Country Director for Greece (Vigderman) to the Ambassador to Greece (Tasca)1

Washington, May 4, 1970.

Dear Henry:

The Under Secretaries Committee met on Thursday2 to consider recommendations to the President following the receipt of your report.3

Under Secretary Richardson presided, Art Hartman was Secretary, and in attendance were Joe Sisco, Frank Shakespeare, Warren Nutter, Robert Pranger, Rodger Davies, Margaret Tibbetts, General Chapman and me.

The discussion seems to have led to the following conclusions: (I need to stress that what the group concluded can only be tested following the [Page 708] circulation of a paper which is now in preparation.4 The precision of decision which is set down here may be somewhat misleading.)

1.
It was agreed that there should be no public disclosure of the decision to resume aid until after the NATO Defense Ministers Meeting which takes place on June 11.
2.
The timing of the announcement of a decision to resume aid would have to be appraised thereafter in the light of the then existing Congressional situation. (Opportunity to attack and danger to Administration measures, particularly Foreign Military Aid bills.)
3.
In the context of the delivery of the Presidentʼs reply to the Prime Ministerʼs letter, you might be authorized (a) to tell the Prime Minister that the President was taking him at his word on constitutional reform, (b) explain our strategy for avoiding a divisive NATO discussion, (c) advert to the Congressional problem, and (d) say that we hope to have a decision some time in June, and, finally (and without commitment) suggest to the Prime Minister that once we have the NATO and Congressional problem behind us, we will be in a position to examine in a very positive spirit the question of resuming arms shipments, including a public announcement.

Sincerely,

Alfred G. Vigderman 5
  1. Source: Department of State, Greek Desk Files: Lot 75 D 227, Resumption of Military Aid to Greece. Secret;Nodis; Official–Informal. Cleared by Hartman (S/PC) in draft.↩
  2. April 30.↩
  3. Document 273.↩
  4. See Document 278.↩
  5. Printed from a copy that bears this typed signature.↩