868.24/89: Telegram
The Acting Secretary of State to the Minister in Greece ( MacVeagh )
262. Your No. 275, November 2, 2 a.m. The Department and other interested agencies of the Government have been annoyed by the [Page 589] activities of private firms claiming to be authorized agents of the Greek Government for the purchase of arms. The Department has informed the Greek Minister here that his Government’s requests could be dealt with more effectively if he or some responsible Greek official were appointed the Greek Government’s official purchasing agent, and that endeavors to purchase through private agents, either American or Greek, be terminated. The Turkish Ambassador in Washington has acted successfully as agent for the large purchases of his Government in the United States, thus eliminating private dealings and commissions. The new arrangement by which it appears that Greek purchases are to be handled by the Greek Minister cooperating with the British Purchasing Commission is entirely satisfactory. The Minister and the Chief of the Commission are now in consultation in regard to this matter with the Liaison Committee charged by the President with assisting foreign purchasing missions and coordinating their purchases with those of this Government.
You are requested to inform the Greek Government of the foregoing.