50 Years Ago Today
PAVLOS-PAPAGOS CORRESPONDENCE: Letters exchanged between King Paul and Greek Rally party leader Alexandros Papagos were released by the office of the prime minister. The letter addressed by the king to the field marshal is as follows: Dear Field Marshal, Although you presented your views to me two days ago, I am addressing a fresh appeal to you to cooperate with the leaders of the two other parties to form a national government under your own leadership. (…) Please consider before replying to me this time. The leaders of the two other parties (Ed. note: Nikolaos Plastiras of the EPEK party and Sophocles Venizelos of the Liberals) have responded positively to my appeal and have sacrificed much of their respective platforms and themselves proposed that you lead the coalition. (…) Under such circumstances, I do not want to believe that as a military man and politician who has given so much to his country, you would refuse to lead the effort to restore unity to our people.(…) The field marshal’s reply to the letter said: Your Majesty’s fears that the recent elections showed a weakening of the Greek people’s domestic unity are nothing compared to the consequences if I were to join the formation of a tripartite government.(…)
