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A Fait Accompli: The US Reaction to the Greek Military Coup of 1967

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American Foreign Policy Towards the Colonels' Greece

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Abstract

This chapter considers the American response to the Greek military coup of 21 April 1967. It considers how the United States initially reacted to the events of the coup, as well as how, over succeeding weeks and months, the Johnson administration attempted to arrive at a longer-term policy toward the colonels. Two main issues are addressed here: the initial US reaction to the coup and the formation of the longer-term approach the US government would take over succeeding years. This chapter shows how, as the longer-term approach developed, the US would come to follow a two-pronged strategy: One advocating for the return of democracy in Greece, but also working toward a modus vivendi with a regime that the US found less than ideal, but one that was key to US and NATO strategic interests in the Eastern Mediterranean.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    On the dictatorship itself and this period, see Antoniou et al. (2017), Athenian (1972), Barkman (1989), Brown (1980, 1986), Clogg (1982), Clogg and Yannopoulos (1972), Couloumbis (1968, 1974, 2004), Danopoulos (1983, 1984, 1985), Kassimeris (2006), Klarevas (2006), Kornetis (2016), Kouki and Antoniou (2017), Meletopoulos (2000), Murtagh (1994), Nikolakakis (2017), Panourgiá (2009), Papandreou (1970), Rizas (2002), Schwab and Frangos (1973), Stavrou (1976), Sulzberger (1970), Tsoucalas (1969), Veremis (1987, 1997), Vournas (2003), Woodhouse (1985), and Xydis (1974).

  2. 2.

    For an embassy official’s view of the coup, see Keeley (2011).

  3. 3.

    Battle to Rusk, Secret, 4/21/67, #121, “Greece , Memos and Misc. [2 of 2], Vol. II, 1/66-7/67,” Country File: Cyprus, Greece , NSF, Box 126, LBJ Library.

  4. 4.

    Rostow to Nixon, Confidential, 4/21/67, #119, “Greece , Memos and Misc. [2 of 2], Vol. II, 1/66-7/67,” Country File: Cyprus, Greece , NSF, Box 126, LBJ Library.

  5. 5.

    Athens to State, Secret, Telegram 5016, 4/28/67, POL 23-9 GREECE , 1967–69 SNF, RG 59, USNA.

  6. 6.

    Athens to State, Secret/LimDis, Telegram 4856, 4/23/67, POL 23-9 GREECE , 1967–69 SNF, RG 59, USNA.

  7. 7.

    The original reads: “but what had happended had happended.”

  8. 8.

    Athens to State, Secret, Telegram 4891, 4/24/67, POL 23-9 GREECE , 1967–69 SNF, RG 59, USNA.

  9. 9.

    Battle to the Acting Secretary, Secret/ExDis, S/S 6895, 4/24/67, POL 23-9 GREECE , 1967–69 SNF, RG 59, USNA.

  10. 10.

    State to Athens, Secret/LimDis, Telegram 183001, 4/26/67, POL 23-9 GREECE , 1967–69 SNF, RG 59, USNA.

  11. 11.

    Military Assistance Program .

  12. 12.

    Battle to the Acting Secretary, Secret ExDis, S/S 6895, 4/24/67, POL 23-9 GREECE , 1967–69 SNF, RG 59, USNA.

  13. 13.

    State to Athens, Secret/LimDis, Telegram 181282, 4/24/67, POL 23-9 GREECE , 1967–69 SNF, RG 59, USNA.

  14. 14.

    Athens to State, Secret, Telegram 4901, 4/24/67, POL 23-8 GREECE , 1967–69 SNF, RG 59, USNA.

  15. 15.

    The original reads: “distrubed.”

  16. 16.

    Athens to State, Secret, Telegram 4875, 4/24/67, POL 23-9 GREECE , 1967–69 SNF, RG 59, USNA.

  17. 17.

    The Joint US Military Aid Group to Greece .

  18. 18.

    Federal Republic of Germany .

  19. 19.

    Athens to State, Secret, Telegram 5995, 6/23/67, DEF 19 US-GREECE , 1967–69 SNF, RG 59, USNA.

  20. 20.

    Athens to State, Secret/LimDis, Telegram 5377, 5/21/67, POL 15-1 GREECE , 1967–69 SNF, RG 59, USNA.

  21. 21.

    Athens to State, Secret/LimDis, Telegram 4882, 4/22/67, POL 23-9 GREECE , 1967–69 SNF, RG 59, USNA.

  22. 22.

    State to Athens, Secret/LimDis, Telegram 180319, 4/21/67, POL 23-9 GREECE , 1967–69 SNF, RG 59, USNA.

  23. 23.

    State to Athens, Secret/LimDis, Telegram 180319, 4/21/67, POL 23-9 GREECE , 1967–69 SNF, RG 59, USNA.

  24. 24.

    State to Athens, Secret/ExDis, Telegram 180838, 4/24/67, POL 23-9 GREECE , 1967–69 SNF, RG 59, USNA.

  25. 25.

    State to Athens, Secret, Telegram 180648, 4/22/67, POL 23-9 GREECE , 1967–69 SNF, RG 59, USNA.

  26. 26.

    The King did eventually launch an unsuccessful countercoup attempt in December 1967.

  27. 27.

    Athens to State, Secret/LimDis, Telegram 4856, 4/23/67, POL 23-9 GREECE , 1967–69 SNF, RG 59, USNA.

  28. 28.

    State to Athens, Secret, Telegram 181462, 4/24/67, POL 15 GREECE , 1967–69 SNF, RG 59, USNA.

  29. 29.

    On the place of Greece in Cold War politics, see Maragkou (2014).

  30. 30.

    Athens to State, Confidential, Telegram 4964, 4/26/1967, POL 23-9 GREECE , 1967–69 SNF, RG 59, USNA.

  31. 31.

    State to Athens, Secret, Telegram 180648, 4/22/67, POL 23-9 GREECE , 1967–69 SNF, RG 59, USNA.

  32. 32.

    Athens to State, Secret/LimDis, Telegram 4941, 4/25/67, POL 23-9 GREECE , 1967–69 SNF, RG 59, USNA.

  33. 33.

    Brewster to Rockwell, Secret, 4/27/67, POL 1 GREECE -US, 1967–69 SNF, RG 59, USNA (emphases in original).

  34. 34.

    Athens to State, Secret, Telegram 5108, 5/4/67, POL 15-1 GREECE , 1967–69 SNF, RG 59, USNA.

  35. 35.

    Athens to State, Confidential, Telegram 5191, 5/10/67, POL 15 GREECE , 1967–69 SNF, RG 59, USNA.

  36. 36.

    Athens to State, Secret/LimDis, Telegram 5377, 5/21/67, POL 15-1 GREECE , 1967–69 SNF, RG 59, USNA.

  37. 37.

    State to Athens, Secret, Telegram 187449, 5/3/67, POL 15 GREECE , 1967–69 SNF, RG 59, USNA.

  38. 38.

    See Nafpliotis (2013), Conispoliatis (2007), Maragkou (2010, 2013), and Pedaliu (2007).

  39. 39.

    State to Athens, Secret, Telegram 187449, 5/3/67, POL 15 GREECE , 1967–69 SNF, RG 59, USNA.

  40. 40.

    Athens to State, Secret/LimDis, Telegram 5221, 5/11/67, POL 15 GREECE , 1967–69 SNF, RG 59, USNA (emphasis added).

  41. 41.

    Athens to State, Secret/LimDis, Telegram 5221, 5/11/67, POL 15 GREECE , 1967–69 SNF, RG 59, USNA (emphasis added).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Indiana University South Bend, South Bend, IN, USA

    Neovi M. Karakatsanis

  2. Purdue University Northwest, Hammond and Westville, IN, USA

    Jonathan Swarts

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  1. Neovi M. Karakatsanis
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Correspondence to Neovi M. Karakatsanis .

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Karakatsanis, N.M., Swarts, J. (2018). A Fait Accompli: The US Reaction to the Greek Military Coup of 1967. In: American Foreign Policy Towards the Colonels' Greece. Palgrave Macmillan, New York. https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-137-52318-1_2

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