868.24/166
Memorandum of Conversation, by the Assistant Secretary of State (Berle)
The Greek Minister came in to see me, at his request.
He said that he had received a cable from his Government relating to relief shipments to Greece. This made it clear that the understanding of the Greek Government in London, and of the British Government in London, was exactly the same as the understanding which he had had of the situation, following his conversation with me. This was that only wheat was to be shipped to Greece, but that a report from the Swedish-Swiss Commission was to be expected; and that at that time the situation might be reviewed.
The Minister said that his Government had now requested him to ask this Government for a commitment to supply 2,000 tons of dried vegetables, under Lend-Lease, if, as and when, and in the event that, the British Government and ourselves were agreed that these could go forward. In other words, in the contingency that both governments were willing that this food should go forward, the Greek Government wanted a commitment that it would be supplied under Lend-Lease.
I said that I would have to take this up with the appropriate authorities. As he knew, I had handled the matter of the earlier supplies, in Mr. Acheson’s absence, but I would endeavor to ascertain from Lend-Lease whether they were prepared to make a commitment at this time.