June 4, 1956
GREECE-FRANCE I: The official visit of the Greek royal couple, Paul and Frederica, to the French capital […] represents the reassertion of the very long ties, intellectual, cultural and other, that have united the two countries in joint efforts in favor of the concept and the pursuits of western civilization in the Mediterranean basin. It was to France that Greece turned on the very day after its independence in order to draw spirit, ideas and artistic inspiration. […] France represents freedom and democracy in the consciousness of many Greeks. […] There have, perhaps, been periods of misunderstandings between the two countries and Greece was much embittered by France’s indifference toward other struggles for its national reconstitution. […] France has not been favorably disposed to Greece’s taking of the Cyprus issue to the United Nations. […] Entangled itself in North Africa, it did not want to appear encouraging to (nationalist) demands […] The French will know that Cyprus is Greece’s Alsace… GREECE-FRANCE II: Paris, 2 – Le Monde writes that Greek public opinion fully understands that the complex issues in North Africa do not allow France at this moment to give any direct and unwavering support to the Cypriot people.
