Memorandum, State Department Summary of Telegrams

OFFICE OF the DECLASSIFIED THE SECRETARY OF STATE 12065, Sec. 3-402 WASHINGTON State Dept. DEB NLT, 07/07-26-85 E.O. Guidelines, March 6, 1982 June 9, 1952 By SEGRET SECURITY INFORMATION SUMMARY OF TELEGRAMS GERMANY Chancellor Adenauer has sent word to our representa- - tives in Bonn that after consultation with his Cabinet and the coalition party leaders, he is more than ever confident that ra- tification of the Contractual Agreements and European Defense Com- munity Treaty will take place prior to the Bundestag (lower house) recess which is now scheduled for July 20. While our representatives note several internal German factors which favor ratification at a date later than this, they believe these problems can be overcome if ratification by the US Senate is secured in June. They believe the latter to be "an in- dispensable prerequisite' for early ratification by the Federal Republic. GREECE Embassy Athens reports on conversations following the publication of an interview of Acting Prime Minister Venizelos regarding the Greek economic problem which Venizelos poses as the product of American mistakes and a disproportionate military burden. Ambassador Peurifoy met with Venizelos and other Greek officials and told them we were surprised and disturbed by the anti-American tone and certain criticisms which appeared in the interview. Venizelos apologized profusely and declared that his pro-Americanism was well established and that the economic policies outlined were intended to apply only after the termination of US aid. It was finally agreed that he would issue a statement that he had not intended to say anything which might be construed as being critical of the US or its policy. On his return to the Embassy residence, Peurifoy found that the King and Queen had called to discuss the interview. The King believed that the interview had been written for Venizelos by a subordinate and that the Acting Prime Minister had ap- proved the text with little inderstanding of its context. The King added that Venizelos would certainly not intentionally affront the US. Although the statement by Venizelos has not been issued yet and the Ambassador has made no public comment, most Athens newspapers have described the conversation between Venizelos and Peurifoy as American representa- tions over the ill timed views expressed by the Acting Prime Minister. SECRET SECURITY INFORMATION