August 11, 1956
GREECE AND THE SUEZ CRISIS: The Greek government has refused an invitation from the three Western powers (Britain, the USA, France) to participate in a conference of 24 countries in London next Thursday (August 16). The decision was taken late yesterday afternoon after a lengthy meeting between Prime Minister Constantine Karamanlis, Foreign Minister Evangelos Averoff, other ministers and senior diplomats. (…) All the participants agreed with the prime minister’s view that Greece could not be represented at a conference which, called under the present circumstances of high tension, was not likely to result in conclusions acceptable to both sides (Ed. note: Britain and France on the one hand and Egypt on the other). BRITISH REACTION: London – A Foreign Office spokesman expressed surprise when informed of reports from Athens to the effect that Greece had refused to be represented at the London conference. Diplomatic circles in London claim that other issues apart from the Cyprus problem dictated Greece’s decision, such as the fact that there is a large and prosperous community of Greeks in Egypt.
