868.00/12–544: Telegram
The United States Representative, Advisory Council for Italy (Kirk), to the Secretary of State
[Received 10:46 p.m.]
1605. Churchill has sent a message to General Scobie in Athens42 stating that he has given instructions to SAC to make certain that all British forces in Greece are left there and all possible reinforcements should be sent. He informed Scobie that he would hold him responsible for maintaining order in Athens and for neutralizing or destroying all EAM–ELAS groups who come near the capital. Churchill has authorized Scobie to make all regulations he wishes for strong control of the streets or for rounding up any numbers of truculent people. He pointed out that he expected ELAS would put women and children in the advance line when shooting began and that he, Scobie, must be clever about this and avoid mistakes. Churchill added that Scobie should not hesitate to fire at any armed male in Athens who assailed British authority or Greek authority with which British are working. Churchill stated that it would be well if Scobie command could be reinforced by authority of some Greek Government and added that Papandreou was being told by British Ambassador not to hesitate.
In addition Churchill stated that Scobie should not hesitate to act as if he were in a conquered city where a local rebellion were in progress and suggested that with the forces at his command he should be able to give ELAS bands approaching from outside a lesson which would make others unlikely to behave similarly.
[Page 144]Churchill’s message to Scobie concluded with statement that he would give his support to Scobie on all action taken on this basis and stated that British must hold and dominate Greek capital. He commented that it would be a great thing if Scobie could succeed in doing this without bloodshed if possible but that he should not hesitate to go through with bloodshed if necessary.
- Text in Winston S. Churchill, The Second World War: Triumph and Tragedy (Boston, 1953), p. 289.↩