868.00/12–844: Telegram
The Ambassador in Greece (MacVeagh) to the Secretary of State
[Received December 9—2:30 p.m.]
The British Ambassador told me this afternoon that while negotiations were in progress among the Greek politicians this morning for a reconstitution of the Government he received instructions from London to the effect that there should be no political change at this time, that the British had undertaken to protect Athens against armed attack and should get on with the job while the Greeks should postpone politics until after the crisis is over. As a result Mr. Papandreou after resigning this morning has undertaken to carry on. General Scobie is concentrating troops including Greek Mountain Brigade in the center of Athens and the cruiser Orion is standing by to aid if necessary in further defense of the naval school in the Piraeus. The situation seems rapidly developing towards a clash between British and Greeks. Scobie told correspondents this morning, “I cannot promise that if the British troops are fired on they will not fire back” and said that further columns of ELAS (see my number 125 of December 4, 6 p.m.) are moving on the city. Meanwhile Greek factions continue their spasmodic civil war in various parts of the urban area. Latest reports reaching the British Ambassador from Salonika indicate that ELAS has repudiated the Government and has started looting ML43 stores. Reviewing the whole situation he said, “Fundamentally the trouble is we haven’t enough troops. We must have enough troops if this job is to be handled right”. Under the above circumstances I have ordered all members of this Mission living in or around the center of the city to move either into the Embassy building or the American School for the time being.
- Military Liaison.↩