765.68/287: Telegram

The Minister in Greece ( MacVeagh ) to the Secretary of State

214. The Political Director of the Foreign Office read me a telegram this morning from the Greek Minister to Italy stating that the German Ambassador in Rome had interceded with the Foreign Minister in the interests of the preservation of peace in this region. Coincidentally, I am privately informed on the best authority that the Greek Minister in Berlin was instructed last week to request intercession. If this is true it would seem that the Greek Government has incurred obligations toward the German Government which it may find difficult to ignore later on.

The Berlin broadcast in the Greek language denied last night “at the request of the Stefani Agence” (1) that Italy has presented an ultimatum to Greece; (2) that there are any concentrations of Italian troops on the Greco-Albanian frontier; (3) that Italy intends to take military action or occupy Corfu or Crete; and (4) that Italy has assumed in general a hostile attitude toward Greece.

Tension appears to be somewhat lessened here both in official and unofficial circles. Nevertheless, the Greek Government is remaining vigilant. In regard to No. 3 above, the Political Director again confirmed to me this morning that Italian troop concentrations on the border exist, he said they are even increasing and added that [Page 540] within the last few days, 6,000 more Italian troops have landed in Albania, most of whom have been sent to the southern section.

The Yugoslav Military Attaché who still puts the strength of the Italians in Albania at 150,000 men said today that without overt mobilization the Greeks now have between 300,000 and 320,000 men under arms in all services. Full mobilization consisting of 12 classes has been accomplished in Crete, the Ionian Islands and Epirus while in Macedonia 5 classes have been called up. There are 3 divisions in Epirus facing Albania 1 of them motorized and 6 in Macedonia. Completely mobilized services include the navy, the coast defense, the heavy artillery, the engineering corps, the anti-aircraft defense, aviation, and liaison.

MacVeagh