781.00/12–2350: Telegram
The Ambassador in Greece (Peurifoy) to the Secretary of State
2027. Lapham and I saw PriMin1 and Deputy PriMin2 this morning at their request. Obvious purpose was to secure our commendation and congratulations for Parliament’s ratification of emergency reconstruction laws we have long been urging. Greek Government leaders pointed out all measures in which we have been interested have either already been ratified by Parliament or will be during the two sessions Parliament holding today before adjourning for Christmas recess.
I remarked that Americans were indeed glad to see that Parliament’s action on these measures had finally been taken but that it seemed to me this could just as well have been done six weeks ago. I further stressed that passage such measures insufficient since all required promulgation directives and regulations and above all actual implementation.
I added that in addition legislative responsibility government had another and most serious task at present: to develop means to face crucial economic situation and threatened inflation. So far as I was aware, government had no such plans and after holidays Greece likely [Page 444] be confronted with danger of widespread strikes and other manifestations of economic discontent and disorder.
Deputy PriMin stated he was in complete accord with view I had expressed. He promised that within a week he personally would bring forth concrete proposals for meeting economic dangers.