Foreign Relations of the United States: Diplomatic Papers, 1944, The Near East, South Asia, and Africa, The Far East, Volume V

868.00/12–1144: Telegram

The Ambassador in Greece (MacVeagh) to the Secretary of State

Athens, December 11, 1944—3 p.m.
[Received 9:15 p.m.]

140. Every day makes it clearer that the forces under Scobie’s command here are insufficient to assure the defense of a city of this size together with the Piraeus and the Kalamaki airfield and the roads between them against total available guerrilla forces estimated by the British staff to comprise 25,000. Savage battles continue in many parts of Athens and suburbs today. Meanwhile the ELAS which has so far been largely depending on its civilian reserves of about 10,000 in the city is now reinforcing with well equipped troops from outside and it is widely understood, though this is not yet officially confirmed, that its command has been taken over by Ares, regarded as the most unscrupulous and sadistic of the guerrilla leaders.

Politically I am informed that the proposal to constitute a regency under the Archbishop has been revived. Field Marshal Alexander⁴⁵ and Macmillan⁴⁶ arrived today.

MacVeagh

45. Sir Harold R. L. Alexander, Commander in Chief, Allied Forces, Italy; became Supreme Allied Commander, Mediterranean Theater, on December 12, 1944.
46. Harold Macmillan, British Minister Resident, Allied Force Headquarters (Mediterranean).