17- #669, Eighteenth, from London.             
 
                                                            
 
 
The spot the assailants were hurled back and Athens and as 
            I firmly believe Greek freedom were saved.      
 
                                                            
 
 
On Christmas Day I thought it necessary to go to Athens with 
      my right Hon. friend the Foreign Secretary. There was a demand 
      from many quarters for the Regency and for the Archbishop. I 
      was anxious to test that on the spot: I was anxious to see what 
      could be done at the conference of all parties including of course 
      the representatives of EAM and the Communists which I asked the 
      Archbishop to convene in Athens. At this conference those severed 
      by mortal hatred--mortal and living hatred--were seated around 
      a table and found them united upon the Regency and in their minds 
      at that time there was obviously only one man who could fill 
      it. So the Foreign Secretary and I on our return labored with 
      the Greek King in order to procure his assent. We were successful 
      and on 31st December Archbishop Damascenes was invested with 
      the royal power pending his Regency and I think with more than 
                        this royal power.                   
 
                                                            
 
 
We did not seek to be consulted about his measures nor did 
      we interfere in the choice neither of his Prime Minister nor 
      in the character and composition of his government. I did not 
      know when I left with any assurance that would be his Prime Minister 
      or what men Prime Minister that Prime Minister would choose and 
      approved by him to fill the Government.