868.01/374: Telegram

The Secretary of State to the Ambassador to the Greek Government in Exile ( Kirk ), at Cairo

Greek Series no. 26. Your Greek Series no. 43, August 18, noon. Please communicate the following reply from the President to the King of Greece.

“I hope that in the interest of our common war effort all Greeks will accept the program announced in Your Majesty’s radio address of July 452 as a guarantee that they will have full opportunity freely to express their political will at the earliest practicable moment and that they will meanwhile subordinate other considerations to the urgent necessity of winning the war and liberating their homeland.”52a

Please inform the King orally that the President would find it difficult to advise him as regards the reply to be made to the Greek emissaries now in Cairo, about whom he has little information. However, he doubts that any further statement by the King at this time would promote the war effort.

Should any of the representatives of the guerrilla or political groups seek your views you may advise them in the sense of the foregoing, though you should of course not quote the President.

Hull
  1. For summary of speech, see telegram Greek Series No. 11, July 3, 7 p.m., from the Ambassador to the Greek Government in Exile, p. 135.
  2. Telegram Greek Series No. 61, September 9, 5 p.m., from Cairo (not printed) transmitted a reply from King George II expressing gratitude for this message.