Kissinger: We want to help the Greeks, but we can't have them give us unattainable objectives. We must get them to make attainable proposals. We can't get into a Defense-State good guy-bad guy fight. We need time to bring Karamanlis along. He has to kick us around a bit before he can work with us. This is a tactical issue, not who is for or against Greece.
Schlesinger: What was the purpose of that speech?
Kissinger: Only that we have not to split on this.
We can't placate the Greeks now, because that stiffens them. We must hold our capital with Turkey until the negotiations.
The Greeks have to realize reality -- we will come out modestly okay with the Greeks.
Schlesinger: It sounds okay. You're the honest broker.
Kissinger: We just can't get into the middle of this right now. Karamanlis has a problem -- the Left almost took over, the army is politically demoralized, and the center is weak.
TOP SECRET/NODIS
