Foreign Relations of the United States: Diplomatic Papers, 1945, The Near East and Africa, Volume VIII

840.50 UNRRA/3–1245: Telegram

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

Athens, March 12, 1945—5 p.m.
[Received March 13—2:50 p.m.]

259. Reference your 134 of February 14, 2 p.m., and my 232 of March 1, 2 p.m.⁸⁹ Hendrickson⁹⁰ and his party are to meet on March 16 with the military in Caserta and complete arrangements for the assumption of responsibility here by UNRRA.

It is now expected here that by March 15 Greek Government organizations will have assumed responsibility for the receipt, clearance, warehousing and distribution of JRC,⁹¹ ML and UNRRA supplies, the supervision and running of medical centers and the distribution of medical supplies and clothing. The remaining supply and relief functions which are at present being carried out by ML will become a responsibility of UNRRA from April 1. UNRRA’s responsibilities in Greece will thus be limited to requisitioning supplies, accepting overseas shipments, turning such shipments over to Greek Government on board ships, and serving as observers and consultants as well as coordinators of voluntary agencies.

While it has been agreed that UNRRA is not to be an operating organization it may in the beginning have to operate in some areas, owing to unreadiness on the part of the Greek Government to undertake this function. ML is planning to remain in the background after April 1 for 1 or 2 months so as to give all possible aid to UNRRA during the transition period. Some officers of ML will be released to serve with UNRRA as civilians. In addition ML is already beginning to turn over district by district to UNRRA and is insisting that UNRRA become familiar with all ML operations. Thus, for instance, UNRRA representatives now attend General Scobie’s advisors’ meetings and are members of the Joint Coordinating Committee. Detailed plans are being made for the sale to UNRRA of such ML organizational stores and equipment as army vehicles, office equipment, et cetera. Meanwhile Palmer⁹² has refused the post of chief of the UNRRA Greek mission and Maben continues as acting chief.

The Greek Government and the Greek people have approved the signing of the agreement⁹³ with great satisfaction, although there seems to be a widespread feeling that direct control by UNRRA of the distribution of supplies and the specific earmarking of the proceeds of the sales for relief and rehabilitation purposes would in the long run have more effectively aided Greece.

Sadler requests Hilldring be informed. Also please inform Treasury.

MacVeagh

89. Neither printed.
90. Roy F. Hendrickson, Deputy Director General, Bureau of Supply, United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration.
91. Joint Relief Commission.
92. Brig. G. V. Palmer, in charge of Supplies and Relief, British Forces in Greece.
93. Signed at Athens on March 1, 1945; for text, see George Woodbridge, UNRRA: The History of the United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration, vol. iii, p. 289. In telegram 285, March 21, 1945, noon, transmitted by the Ambassador in Greece on behalf of James A. Stillwell of the War Areas Economic Division for the special attention of Assistant Secretary of State Clayton and other Department officers, it is stated that the agreement “in effect gives to the Greek officials unlimited, uncontrolled and unaccountable jurisdiction over UNRRA supplies from shipside to consumer.” (840.50 UNRRA Personnel/3–2145)