740.0011 European War 1939/7374: Telegram
The Minister in Greece (MacVeagh) to the Secretary of State
[Received January 1, 1941—1:35 p.m.]
381. Department’s telegram No. 316, December 28, 5 p.m.57 When I queried him in general terms this morning the Under Secretary for Foreign Affairs would not say that there have been any German attempts at mediation in the Greco-Italian war though he admitted in this connection what he called “rumors in Berlin”. On the same subject, the Director of the Foreign Office yesterday made a similar evasion but went on to say that mediation is out of the question in any case since Greece could accept only a victorious settlement at present including such things as territorial readjustment and the payment of a large indemnity as well as recognition of the fact that Greece cannot compel the British to leave the positions here which they have already occupied. Regarding “territorial readjustment” he said that he could make no official definition of Greek war aims but pointed to the fact which is becoming daily more evident in the press that national aspirations are being aroused as a result of Greek victories for the return of northern Epirus and the Dodecanese.
Since a rumor has reached here from Sofia alleging secret Greco-Bulgarian conversations in that city, I sounded out both the Under Secretary and the Director General on this subject. The Under Secretary said that he thought Bulgaria is now well content to remain neutral between the conflicting pressures of the colossi Germany and Russia. To a question as to whether under these conditions a move to attract her into a new entente for the preservation of Balkan integrity and independence might not be in order he replied, “This is not the time”. In this connection he particularly cited Turkish suspicions of Bulgaria which he said would dictate the retention of Turkish military forces in eastern Thrace and thus practically nullify [Page 574] any peace pact which might be made between the two. When I asked the Director General a question along the same lines but specifically citing the possibility of an Aegean exit I received only the old answers that Bulgaria has no right to such an exit and could not be trusted to be content with it if obtained.
The Under Secretary appeared more interested in what is going on in the West particularly in France at present than in purely Balkan developments, feeling that the former will decide the direction to be taken by the latter. Both he and the Director General indicated that despite local successes the military situation in Albania remains essentially as reported in my telegram 368, December 14, 7 p.m. section 2.58
Salonika was bombed again yesterday and some damage was done to property near the Consulate but there were few casualties and Consul Johnson has reported all Americans safe.
Department’s telegrams 311, 312 received December 22; 313, 314 December 25; 315 December 28.59