File No. 811.2222/12898
The Greek Minister ( Roussos) to the Secretary of State
Aide-Mémoire
I have the honor to inform the Department of State that my Government, to which I forwarded the text of the military convention agreed to by the United States of America and Great Britain, is ready to sign a similar convention with the Government of the United States.
However, I beg the Government of the United States kindly to examine the suggestion it makes in this connection which it believes worthy of its benevolent attention considering the grounds from which it springs.
The Royal Government is taking concern at the slowness, caused by the circumstances and the imperative needs of the Allies, with which the equipment and armament needed by the Greek Army are supplied. The mobilization of the Greek Army has been very much retarded, and has been effected in very small part, only because of the lack of needed supplies and equipment.
This condition causes the Government an apprehension that the enemy forces will be increased in the Balkans by German, Austrian, and Turkish forces. The activity lately displayed on the Balkan front, and the successes of the Allied troops will necessarily cause the Germans to aid their allies in every way, and this might create a dangerous situation which the Allies engaged on the western front may not be able “to remedy by sending adequate reinforcements.
[Page 708]The United States still maintaining relations with Bulgaria will also be unable to send reinforcements.
In order to meet this difficulty the Royal Government submits to the examination of the Government of the United States the plan of forming with Greeks of military age, regiments, the men of which would be Greek subjects, and the corps of officers and non-commissioned officers exclusively American.
These regiments would form part of the American forces, and fight as American regiments without intervention of any kind on the part of Greece.
The usefulness of such a formation would be apparent only in case of a serious threat on the Balkan front, which would call for reinforcements which the Allies could not send. These troops made up of Greek subjects would only need a change of officers in order to become Greek troops, and be sent to the Balkans where they would strengthen the front without raising any question whatever.
I indulge the hope that this suggestion of the Royal Government, inspired only by the concern taken in the above-stated situation, will be examined with the attention it deserves, and if it is accepted, as I hope it may be, it might be settled through a separate agreement.
Among the Greeks living in America and liable to military service there are a small number of reserve officers and non-commissioned officers. As the Government of the United States cannot commission aliens as officers, the Royal Government begs the Government of the United States kindly to provide for the transportation of these men to a French port, whence they would be sent on to Greece. It involves a contingent of a few hundreds of men, the transportation of whom, even on cargo vessels, could be provided for without causing the least inconvenience.