868.00/12–444: Telegram
The Ambassador in Greece (MacVeagh) to the Secretary of State
[Received December 5—10:32 a.m.]
125. The general strike went into effect today (see my 120, December 3) and all public services are affected. A large funeral was staged this morning by EAM for the victims of yesterday’s fracas and there has been considerable shooting in many parts of Athens all day while the naval cadet school at the Piraeus containing quarters of Naval Commander in Chief was besieged for several hours by ELAS which also surrounded and captured several police stations in that city. The cadet school was relieved by the British but not before a Greek Lieutenant was killed and three British ratings wounded. Phaleron is also in the hands of ELAS. In the early hours a column of ELAS marching from Thebes was intercepted by a British armored unit peacefully disarmed, given coffee and sent home. But ELAS seems determined to capture the city and the British fear that by infiltration from the suburbs where its forces are in control it may be able to concentrate important forces here.
Meanwhile General Scobie whose attitude according to the British Ambassador has been all along in accord with Mr. Churchill’s wishes has this afternoon issued a proclamation stating that he will support constitutional government with all means in his power until free elections can be held.
The British Ambassador informs me that he has advised the Foreign Office that Papandreou should no longer head the Government and that coalition having failed a new political government should be set up as soon as possible. Negotiations he said now tend toward a cabinet under Sophoulis with Papandreou as Minister without Portfolio.
Repeated to Caserta as No. 12.