868.00/1332: Telegram
The Ambassador to the Greek Government in Exile ( MacVeagh ) to the Secretary of State
[Received January 7—1:59 p.m.]
Greek Series 4. In regard to the matter discussed in my telegram No. 148, Greek Series of December 28, 4 p.m.6 my British colleague informed me on January 3 that Mr. Eden7 did have “another go” at Molotov and that the latter reiterated that he could not issue a statement for use by the Greek Prime Minister along with Mr. Eden’s and the Secretary’s because he was insufficiently [informed?] on the Greek situation. However, the Moscow radio emitted a broadcast to Greece on New Year’s Day (to which I understand Mr. Molotov made no reference) calling on “guerillas and citizens” to “unite for the final struggle against the Germans and for the independence and freedom of the Greek people” and I am today informed by the Greek Foreign Office that further word has been received now from Mr. Molotov to the effect that he will support the Allied attitude on the basis of information supplied him by the British Embassy in Moscow.
Should a statement from Mr. Molotov be forthcoming, as now seems possible, it may be regarded as bringing the Soviet technically into concert with the other two powers but on the other hand the delay in its issuance as well as the absence in the above mentioned broadcast of any allusion to the British and American appeals is also likely to have the effect in Greece of giving the Russian pronouncement when it comes a unique distinction as that of a power peculiarly interested and specially to be heard and this may have been the Russian aim from the beginning. The Russian Foreign Office can hardly be presumed ignorant of the considerable activity of Communist groups in all the Balkan countries at the present time as well as of the existence of [Page 86] liaison if nothing more between Tito’s8 Partisans and the direction of EAM9 and though it may not be supporting such activity directly it is probably not averse to its continuance or to capitalizing on the opportunities it is offering so widely for the spread of Soviet influence and prestige.
- Foreign Relations, 1943, vol. iv, p. 165.↩
- Anthony Eden, British Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs.↩
- Assumed name of Josip Broz, Yugoslav partisan leader.↩
- Ethnikon Apeleftherotikon Metopon (National Liberation Front).↩