868.50/3–2445: Telegram
The Ambassador in Greece ( MacVeagh ) to the Secretary of State
[Received March 25—1:05 p.m.]
300. For Department and Secretary of Treasury from Embassy and Patterson. Varvaressos told this Embassy this morning that he plans to leave for London and Washington within a week. He said that the Greek Government feels that the plight and needs of Greece have not been completely realized abroad and the major purpose of his visit is to ask for additional non-food supplies. He will go first to London where he will ask for increased shipping and raw material allocations. In addition we understand from the Financial Adviser of the British Embassy,98 that he will ask that the provision of equipment for the Greek Army be expedited. A properly equipped army is regarded as of major importance here to preserve internal stability necessary to reconstruction.
In Washington Varvaressos said he will investigate the possibility of increasing the flow of industrial and raw materials to Greece from the United States. In this connection he will try to increase the effectiveness of the Greek Supply Mission in Washington. We believe that the various agencies and organizations in the United States which are prepared to help Greece have not been properly utilized by the Greek Government. Although Varvaressos was not specific about requesting a foreign loan in the United States, he did say he proposed to investigate the possibility of getting aid from the Export-Import Bank.
Varvaressos said that before he leaves Athens he hopes to be able to provide us with more detailed agenda of the problems he wishes to discuss in the United States. He said he had been “asked” to attend the San Francisco Conference99 as one of the Greek delegates (see my [Page 205] No. 279 of March 19, 3 p.m.1) but that he feels his presence there is “unnecessary”. The composition of the delegation has not yet been announced pending discussions with the political parties (see my No, 298 of March 24 [23], 10 p.m. [a.m.]1).
While Varvaressos seems the best qualified Greek to speak for his country abroad on financial and economic questions it is possible that the Minister of Finance and other persons in the Government who do not agree with his policies of rigorous government control would be glad to see him out of Greece at this time and for as long as possible.
Sent Department, repeated London as 31 for Embassy and Treasury Representatives, [Embassy and Patterson.]