868.00/12–2644: Telegram
The Ambassador in Greece (MacVeagh) to the Secretary of State
[Received December 27—10:45 a.m.]
185. For the President. I have just come from a meeting called by Mr. Churchill and attended by representative Greek leaders of all factions including the resurgents [insurgents] for purpose of starting negotiations for the composition of political differences underlying present troubles. Mr. Eden, Field Marshal Alexander and Mr. Macmillan were also present and I attended as an observer at Churchill’s invitation along with French Minister and Chief of Russian Military Mission there being no other United Nations representatives in Athens.
Churchill made a firm but very friendly speech stating that British troops originally came here to fight the Germans under arrangement with you and Marshal Stalin but that developments had compelled them to intervene in a Greek struggle to save the people from destruction. [Page 171] He said that General Scobie’s military terms for ceasing fire must be accepted but emphasized that Britain wants nothing here for herself but only the welfare of the country, the continuance of Anglo-Greek friendship and most-favored-nation treatment for her trade. He reiterated his recent statement made in London to effect that whether Greece has a republic or a monarchy is a matter for Greeks alone to decide. Finally he said that Britain wants to see Greece united, free and prosperous taking her place in the Councils of United Nations in a manner worthy of Greeks who broke the Italian power and fought so bravely against Germany; “I beseech you to believe me; I speak in the name of His Majesty’s Government”.
Both the Prime Minister, Mr. Papandreou, and the insurgents who included Siantos, Communist leader, expressed appreciation of Churchill’s initiative and following these preliminaries Churchill turned meeting over to the Greeks with Archbishop in the chair and British together with foreign observers withdrew. The Greeks are still conferring and it is not to be expected that agreement on a “Government of General Confidence” which the insurgents have alleged to be their prime objective will immediately be realized but an earnest and spectacular attempt has at least been made toward allaying suspicions and substituting talking for shooting which are crying needs of the hour.
Mr. Churchill told me that he would be telegraphing you himself tonight.69