Letter from V. Karapanagiotis to S. Venizelos concerning the latter's declaration of support for the Papandreou government, the latter's inaction in the face of the measures taken against the sender, and the decision already taken by the British to arrest the sender
226.06.090 · 1944 Μάιος 2 · Ελληνική · machine-generated, not reviewed
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Original text (diplomatic transcription)
OCR: passed checks · claude/opus
Κάϊρον,τῆ 2α Μαΐου 1944
Ἀγαπητέ μου Σοφοκλῆ:-
Θά σέ παρακαλέσω τό περιεχόμενον τῆς παρούσης
μου νά παραμείνη μεταξύ τῶν δύο μας μόνον.Εἶμαι βέβαιος ὅτι,ἄν κοι=
νολογηθῆ,θά ἐντείνη τά ἐναντίον μου μέτρα βίας τά ὁποῖα ἐλήφθησαν
ἤδη ἤ καί πρόκειται νά συνεχισθοῦν.Ἐκ μέρους μου νά εἶσαι βέβαιος
ὅτι δέ πρόκειται νά γίνη,ἐπί τοῦ παρόντος τοὐλάχιστον,χρῆσις αὐτῆς.
Θά σέ ἀπασχολήσω ἐπί δύο ζητημάτων γενικοῦ πο-
λιτικοῦ ἐνδιαφέροντος ἀμφοτέρων,παρά τήνμορφήν προσωπικοῦ ζητήματος
τήν ὁποίαν τό δεύτερον ἐκ τούτων ἐμφανίζει.
Α.
Μετά τάς διαφόρους συζητήσεις αἱ ὁποῖαι ἔλαβον
χώραν μεταξύ μας πιστεύω ὅτι θά συμφωνήσης ὅτι ἡ ἐκ μέρους σου ὑπόδει-
ξις τοῦ κ.Παπανδρέου ὡς Προέδρου μεταβατικῆς ὑπηρεσιακῆς Κυβερνήσεως
ὑπῆρξεν σφάλμα.Ἐκεῖνο ὅμως διά τό ὁποῖον θά καταλογισθῶσιν βαρεῖαι
εὐθῦναι εἶνε ἡ δήλωσις εἰς τήν ὁποίαν προέβης περί παροχῆς ἐκ μέρους
σου "ἀμερίστου ὑποστηρίξεως" εἰς αὐτόν,ἡ ὁποία ἔχει ἰδιαιτέραν ὅλως
σημασίαν ἐφόσον ἔρχεται μετά τάς δημοσιευθείσας δηλώσεις του,αἵτινες
καθορίζουν τήν κυβέρνησίν του ὄχι ὡς μεταβατικήν ὑπηρεσιακήν ἀλλά ὡς
ὁριστικήν,προεξοφλοῦν τήν ἀποτυχίαν τῆς συγκροτήσεως Πανελληνίου Κυβερ-
νήσεως καί ἐπί πλέον παρουσιάζουν ὑπαναχώρησιν ἐπί τοῦ πολιτειακοῦ
ἀπό τοῦ σημείου εἰς ὅ τό ἔχομεν προαγάγει ἡμεῖς. Καί ἄν μέν ἡ δήλωσίς
σου ἀντεπεκρίνετο πρός τάς πραγματικάς σου ἀντιλήψεις,θά ἀπετέλει μίαν
ἐκδήλωσιν πολιτικῆς εἰλικρινείας.Ἐφόσον ὅμως εἶνε γεγονός ὅτι αὐτή
οὐδόλως ἀνταποκρίνεται πρός τάς ἀντιλήψεις σου,εἶνε βέβαιον ὅτι θά σοῦ
καταλογισθῆ βαρεῖα εὐθύνη διότι εἴτε ἐδέχθης ἡ δήλωσις αὐτή νά γίνη
ὑπό τήν γνωστήν ψυχολογικήν πίεσιν εἴτε διότι πιθανῶς νά ἐνέδωκες εἰς
ἀντιλήψεις πολιτευτῶν ἀποβλεπόντων πρό παντός εἰς τό ὑπουργικόν ἀξίωμα.
Ὁπωσδηότε θά κριθῆ ὡς πρᾶξις μή συμβιβαζομένη πρός τάς ὑψηλάς παραδόσεις
καί τούς εὐθαρσεῖς ἀγῶνας τοῦ κόμματός μας,διά τούς ὁποίους τοῦτο διε-
κρίθη ὑπό τήν ἡγεσίαν τοῦ μεγάλου ἀρχηγοῦ μας.
Εἶμαι βέβαιος ὅτι εἶσαι πεπεισμένος ὅτι αἱ
γραμμαί αὐταί δέν ἐμπνέονται ἀπό καμμίαν ἄλλην σκέψιν παρά μόνον ἀπό
τό ἀπεριόριστον ὑπέρ σου ἐνδιαφέρον μου καί τήν ἀνυστερόβουλον ἀγάπην
τήν ὁποίαν ἔναντι σου αἰσθάνομαι.
Stamps and notes
- archival 226/6/90 top right, handwritten
- handwritten_note short horizontal pen stroke / marginal tick left margin, beside the line beginning 'εὐθῦναι εἶνε ἡ δήλωσις'
- other binding/filing marks and punch damage top left
Uncertain readings
- τῆ In the date; no iota subscript is visible, and none appears elsewhere on the page (e.g. παραμείνη, κοινολογηθῆ, γίνη). It is transcribed as seen, but the typewriter may simply lack the subscript or it may be too faint to see.
- ⟦πρόκειται⟧ Overtyped/corrected letters in the ending (looks like πρόκεισαι struck over); intended reading πρόκειται.
- ⟦ἔχομεν⟧ Overtyped correction in the middle of the word (looks like ἐχχομεν); intended reading ἔχομεν.
- ⟦Ὁπωσδηότε⟧ As typed, this appears to lack the π (likely a typing slip for Ὁπωσδήποτε); the reading is not certain.
- πραγματικάς The accent on the final syllable was added by hand in ink.
- ἀντιλήψεις,θά The comma after ἀντιλήψεις was added by hand in ink.
- βαρεῖα The circumflex was added by hand above the typed word (line 'καταλογισθῆ βαρεῖα εὐθύνη').
- δέν Final letter overtyped (μ corrected to ν).
- κριθῆ / παραδόσεις Overtyped letters; readings are clear from context but the strikes are heavy.
Demotic Greek
Κάιρο, 2 Μαΐου 1944
Αγαπητέ μου Σοφοκλή:-
Θα σε παρακαλέσω το περιεχόμενο της παρούσας μου να μείνει μόνο μεταξύ μας. Είμαι βέβαιος ότι, αν γίνει γνωστό, θα εντείνει τα μέτρα βίας εναντίον μου, τα οποία έχουν ήδη ληφθεί ή πρόκειται να συνεχιστούν. Από μέρους μου να είσαι βέβαιος ότι δεν πρόκειται να γίνει, προς το παρόν τουλάχιστον, χρήση της.
Θα σε απασχολήσω σε δύο ζητήματα, και τα δύο γενικού πολιτικού ενδιαφέροντος, παρά τη μορφή προσωπικού ζητήματος που παρουσιάζει το δεύτερο από αυτά.
Α.
Μετά τις διάφορες συζητήσεις που έγιναν μεταξύ μας πιστεύω ότι θα συμφωνήσεις πως η υπόδειξη εκ μέρους σου του κ. Παπανδρέου ως Προέδρου μεταβατικής υπηρεσιακής Κυβέρνησης υπήρξε σφάλμα. Εκείνο όμως για το οποίο θα σου καταλογιστούν βαριές ευθύνες είναι η δήλωση στην οποία προέβης περί παροχής εκ μέρους σου «αμέριστης υποστήριξης» προς αυτόν· η δήλωση αυτή έχει εντελώς ιδιαίτερη σημασία, εφόσον έρχεται μετά τις δημοσιευθείσες δηλώσεις του, οι οποίες καθορίζουν την κυβέρνησή του όχι ως μεταβατική υπηρεσιακή αλλά ως οριστική, προεξοφλούν την αποτυχία της συγκρότησης Πανελλήνιας Κυβέρνησης και επιπλέον παρουσιάζουν υπαναχώρηση στο πολιτειακό από το σημείο στο οποίο το έχουμε προωθήσει εμείς. Και αν μεν η δήλωσή σου ανταποκρινόταν στις πραγματικές σου αντιλήψεις, θα αποτελούσε εκδήλωση πολιτικής ειλικρίνειας. Εφόσον όμως είναι γεγονός ότι αυτή δεν ανταποκρίνεται καθόλου στις αντιλήψεις σου, είναι βέβαιο ότι θα σου καταλογιστεί βαριά ευθύνη, διότι είτε δέχθηκες να γίνει η δήλωση αυτή υπό τη γνωστή ψυχολογική πίεση είτε διότι πιθανώς υπέκυψες σε αντιλήψεις πολιτευτών που αποβλέπουν πρωτίστως στο υπουργικό αξίωμα. Οπωσδήποτε θα κριθεί ως πράξη που δεν συμβιβάζεται με τις υψηλές παραδόσεις και τους θαρραλέους αγώνες του κόμματός μας, για τους οποίους αυτό διακρίθηκε υπό την ηγεσία του μεγάλου αρχηγού μας.
Είμαι βέβαιος ότι είσαι πεπεισμένος πως οι γραμμές αυτές δεν εμπνέονται από καμία άλλη σκέψη παρά μόνο από το απεριόριστο ενδιαφέρον μου για σένα και από την ανυστερόβουλη αγάπη που αισθάνομαι απέναντί σου.
Turkish
Kahire, 2 Mayıs 1944
Sevgili Sofoklis:-
Senden, bu mektubumun içeriğinin yalnızca ikimiz arasında kalmasını rica edeceğim. Eminim ki, eğer yayılırsa, aleyhimde alınmış olan veya sürdürülmesi öngörülen şiddet tedbirlerini yoğunlaştıracaktır. Benim tarafımdan emin ol ki, en azından şimdilik, bunun kullanılması söz konusu olmayacaktır.
Seni, her ikisi de genel siyasi ilgi taşıyan iki konuyla meşgul edeceğim; ikincisinin kişisel bir konu görünümü taşıması bu niteliği değiştirmez.
A.
Aramızda geçen çeşitli görüşmelerden sonra, Bay Papandreu'yu geçiş dönemi hizmet hükümetinin Başkanı olarak göstermenin senin tarafından yapılmış bir hata olduğu konusunda hemfikir olacağına inanıyorum. Ancak asıl ağır sorumluluk yükleyecek olan, ona "bölünmez destek" verdiğine ilişkin yaptığın beyandır. Bu beyan, onun yayımlanmış beyanlarından sonra geldiği için büsbütün ayrı bir önem taşımaktadır; çünkü o beyanlar, hükümetini geçiş dönemi hizmet hükümeti olarak değil kesin bir hükümet olarak tanımlamakta, Panhelenik bir Hükümet kurulmasının başarısızlığını baştan kabul etmekte ve ayrıca rejim sorununda bizim ilerlettiğimiz noktadan geri adım atıldığını göstermektedir. Eğer beyanın gerçek görüşlerine uygun düşseydi, siyasi bir samimiyet göstergesi olurdu. Ancak bu beyanın görüşlerine hiçbir şekilde uymadığı bir gerçek olduğuna göre, ya bilinen psikolojik baskı altında bu beyanın yapılmasını kabul ettiğin için ya da muhtemelen her şeyden önce bakanlık makamını gözeten siyasetçilerin görüşlerine boyun eğdiğin için, sana ağır bir sorumluluk yükleneceği kesindir. Her hâlükârda bu, partimizin yüksek geleneklerine ve büyük önderimizin liderliği altında partimizin kendisiyle temayüz ettiği yüreklice mücadelelere uymayan bir eylem olarak değerlendirilecektir.
Bu satırların, sana duyduğum sınırsız ilgiden ve sana karşı beslediğim art niyetsiz sevgiden başka hiçbir düşünceden kaynaklanmadığına ikna olduğundan eminim.
English
Cairo, 2 May 1944
My dear Sophocles:-
I shall ask you to keep the content of my present letter between the two of us only. I am certain that, if it becomes known, it will intensify the measures of force against me which have already been taken or are about to be continued. On my part, be assured that no use of it is to be made, at least for the present.
I shall trouble you with two questions, both of general political interest, despite the form of a personal question which the second of them presents.
A.
After the various discussions which took place between us, I believe you will agree that your designation of Mr. Papandreou as President of a transitional caretaker Government was a mistake. But that for which heavy responsibilities will be laid at your door is the declaration you made concerning the granting by you of “undivided support” to him. This has quite particular significance inasmuch as it comes after his published statements, which define his government not as a transitional caretaker one but as a definitive one, take for granted the failure of the formation of a Panhellenic Government, and moreover show a retreat on the constitutional question from the point to which we have advanced it. And if your declaration corresponded to your real views, it would constitute a manifestation of political sincerity. But since it is a fact that it does not at all correspond to your views, it is certain that heavy responsibility will be laid on you, either because you consented to this declaration being made under the known psychological pressure, or because you possibly yielded to the views of politicians looking above all to ministerial office. In any case it will be judged an act incompatible with the high traditions and the forthright struggles of our party, for which it was distinguished under the leadership of our great chief.
I am sure that you are convinced that these lines are inspired by no other consideration than my boundless interest in you and the affection, free of any ulterior motive, which I feel toward you.
Open issues
| p. | Kind | Language | Text | Detail |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| abstract_mismatch | αγγλουσ, βενιζελου | names in the archivist's title or abstract not found in the transcription | ||
| 1 | uncertain_reading | τῆ | In the date; no iota subscript is visible, and none appears elsewhere on the page (e.g. παραμείνη, κοινολογηθῆ, γίνη). It is transcribed as seen, but the typewriter may simply lack the subscript or it may be too faint to see. | |
| 1 | uncertain_reading | πρόκειται | Overtyped/corrected letters in the ending (looks like πρόκεισαι struck over); intended reading πρόκειται. | |
| 1 | uncertain_reading | ἔχομεν | Overtyped correction in the middle of the word (looks like ἐχχομεν); intended reading ἔχομεν. | |
| 1 | uncertain_reading | Ὁπωσδηότε | As typed, this appears to lack the π (likely a typing slip for Ὁπωσδήποτε); the reading is not certain. | |
| 1 | uncertain_reading | πραγματικάς | The accent on the final syllable was added by hand in ink. | |
| 1 | uncertain_reading | ἀντιλήψεις,θά | The comma after ἀντιλήψεις was added by hand in ink. | |
| 1 | uncertain_reading | βαρεῖα | The circumflex was added by hand above the typed word (line 'καταλογισθῆ βαρεῖα εὐθύνη'). | |
| 1 | uncertain_reading | δέν | Final letter overtyped (μ corrected to ν). | |
| 1 | uncertain_reading | κριθῆ / παραδόσεις | Overtyped letters; readings are clear from context but the strikes are heavy. | |
| 1 | translation_term | el | Σοφοκλῆ | Πρόσωπο στο οποίο απευθύνεται η επιστολή. Το όνομα διατηρήθηκε στην κλητική: Σοφοκλή. |
| 1 | translation_term | el | ἐπί τοῦ πολιτειακοῦ | Το «πολιτειακό» είναι το ζήτημα του πολιτεύματος (της μορφής του πολιτεύματος, δηλ. βασιλευόμενη ή αβασίλευτη δημοκρατία). Αποδόθηκε «στο πολιτειακό», όπως λεγόταν τότε. |
| 1 | translation_uncertain_source | el | ὑπό τήν γνωστήν ψυχολογικήν πίεσιν | Η «γνωστή ψυχολογική πίεση» δεν διευκρινίζεται στο κείμενο· αποδόθηκε κατά λέξη. |
| 1 | translation_uncertain_source | tr | πρόκειται | Uncertain reading in the transcription. The sentence is translated as 'bundan yararlanılması ⟦söz konusu olmayacaktır⟧' on the assumption that 'χρῆσις αὐτῆς' refers to the letter's content, so the sender is promising not to make use of it for now. |
| 1 | translation_term | tr | τοῦ πολιτειακοῦ | 'Το πολιτειακό' is the Greek constitutional question, i.e. the regime issue of monarchy versus republic. Rendered as 'rejim sorunu'. |
| 1 | translation_term | tr | μεταβατικῆς ὑπηρεσιακῆς Κυβερνήσεως | Rendered as 'geçiş dönemi hizmet hükümeti'. The Greek term is a caretaker or interim non-party government, so Turkish 'geçici/hizmet hükümeti' is a close, not exact, equivalent. |
| 1 | translation_uncertain_source | tr | ἐδέχθης ἡ δήλωσις αὐτή νά γίνη | Original grammar is irregular (nominative 'ἡ δήλωσις' after 'ἐδέχθης'). Translated by sense as 'bu beyanın yapılmasını kabul ettiğin'. |
| 1 | translation_uncertain_source | tr | ἔχομεν | Uncertain reading, translated as 'ilerlettiğimiz'. The phrase 'τό ⟦ἔχομεν⟧ προαγάγει' is grammatically odd in the source, and a form such as 'ἔχομεν προαγάγει' ('we have advanced') is presumed. |
| 1 | translation_uncertain_source | en | πρόκειται | Uncertain reading in the transcription; rendered as “is to” (δέ πρόκειται νά γίνη = is not to be made). |
| 1 | translation_term | en | Προέδρου μεταβατικῆς ὑπηρεσιακῆς Κυβερνήσεως | Πρόεδρος (της Κυβερνήσεως) is rendered literally as “President [of the Government]”; in context it denotes the Prime Minister. Later the text uses πρωθυπουργεία, rendered “premiership”. |
| 1 | translation_term | en | πολιτειακόν | “The constitutional question” (τὸ πολιτειακό) refers to the question of the form of government, i.e. monarchy or republic. |
| 1 | translation_uncertain_source | en | ἔχομεν | Uncertain reading; translated as “we have”. |
| 1 | translation_uncertain_source | en | Ὁπωσδηότε | Uncertain and misspelt in the source (presumably ὁπωσδήποτε); translated as “in any case”. |