768.00/32
The Minister in Greece (MacVeagh) to the Secretary of State
[Received December 29.]
Sir: I have the honor to report that yesterday, November 29th, I had an interview with the Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs, General Metaxas, during a part of which he expressed his views on the international situation at considerable length.
General Metaxas feels, he said, that the European situation has definitely improved, that there is no immediate danger of war in central Europe, and that difficulties between England and Italy in the Mediterranean have been sufficiently ironed out to warrant optimism. [Page 180] English policy under Mr. Chamberlain has particularly contributed to this end, he thinks. As regards the Spanish imbroglio, he feels that whatever the eventual solution may be, there is now no longer any fear of its causing a European catastrophe.
As to his own policies, General Metaxas said Greece only wants peace. Greece is determined, he said, not to tie in with any power or group of powers in Western Europe. He made no direct mention of the Turkish President, with whom he recently conferred, but his expressions in this regard were so similar to those of Dr. Aras91 reported in Mr. Kelley’s despatch No. 4192 [419] of November 15, 1937,92 that though the mouth was the mouth of Metaxas the words seem to be the words of Kemal. In any case they were accompanied by some very satisfied remarks as to the solidity of Greco-Turkish friendship. He said this friendship is a definite barrier to certain well-known Bulgarian ambitions, and that Bulgaria should resign itself to this fact. Bulgaria, should, he said, join the Balkan Entente. Ideas of revenge are definitely bad, and hopes of expansion at the expense of others unreasonable. Besides, he pointed out, every nation cannot expect to have a territorial outlet on the Mediterranean. Bulgaria has already several ports on the Black Sea which communicate with the Mediterranean through the Dardanelles, and Greece is willing to give her every possible commercial facility in Thrace. On the other hand, in answer to my inquiries, he could not say that he had received any indications of Bulgaria’s willingness to adopt this point of view.
Finally, he said that Greece is the natural friend of any country or group which sincerely desires peace.
In connection with this conversation the Department may be interested in a rumor which is going about Athens to the effect that Greece and Turkey have agreed together to remain neutral in case of any conflict of the Western powers in the Eastern Mediterranean.
Respectfully yours,