840.50 UNRRA/5–545

Memorandum of Conversation, by Mr. William O. Baxter of the Division of Near Eastern Affairs

Mr. Maben29 called briefly today to discuss the current situation in Greece, particularly in relation to UNRRA. He left Greece only about a week ago and is returning tomorrow. His hurried visit to Washington was for the purpose of impressing upon all authorities the urgent need of raw materials and small quantities of industrial equipment which will start industry moving and offer employment to the many idle workers in Greece.

Mr. Maben reports optimistically on the port capacity, which he thinks no longer presents a great problem. Conditions are improving so rapidly in that respect that he has no fears of being unable to receive greatly increased cargoes by the time they can be shipped from this country.

Mr. Maben feels very strongly that the Allies have a heavy moral responsibility toward Greece as one of the most stanchly friendly of the liberated areas. Roosevelt, Churchill and Stalin at Yalta declared their active participation in the rehabilitation and reconstruction of liberated areas. Greece, where American prestige is [Page 217] high, looks to us, justifiably Mr. Maben thinks, for generous assistance. It is one of the purposes of Mr. Maben’s visit to urge all agencies of the Government and the Department to recognize the first priority status of Greek needs—not merely for relief items but for those commodities which can contribute to the resumption of normal economic life. Specifically he urged the Department to consider the possibility of a more active participation in the UNRRA activities in Greece. Previous to the first of April, financial and economic representatives attached to our Embassy were regular members of General Scobie’s Advisory Committee. All American participation in such committee ceased on April 1st when UNRRA took over. There is the feeling among many Greeks and British that this has been a mistake since it implies that though we were willing to cooperate with the British military we are not willing to do the same for UNRRA, an international organization in which we have a large stake. It is Mr. Maben’s desire that representatives from the American Embassy should again attend the meetings of the policy committees which are advisory to UNRRA.30 These committees, he pointed out, have no legislative authority; their members are advisers and observers to UNRRA which is in turn an adviser to the Greek Government.

Mr. Maben had nothing but praise for the competence and ability of the Embassy personnel, and feels the lack of their assistance at the present time. He sincerely hopes that the Embassy will adopt a less standoffish policy toward the very urgent Greek problems, confident that such a policy would pay large dividends to our Government.

  1. Designated Chief of the UNRRA Mission to Greece on May 17, 1945.
  2. Marginal notation by the Chief of the Division of Near Eastern Affairs (Merriam): “I think this should be done”. In a memorandum of May 9, Dallas W. Dort of the War Areas Economic Division stated: “Mr. Maben and Mr. Hill both felt that our previous No. 242 [of March 20, p. 203] had been too strictly interpreted by MacVeagh as a result of which there is an impression that we are not concerned with UNRRA’s problems in Greece. There appears to be no objection to clarifying our original telegram as I am sure it was not our intention to prohibit U.S. representatives from participating in meetings with UNRRA where UNRRA desired their advice.” (840.50 UNRRA/5–545) Henry A. Hill was on consultation in the Department, prior to the termination of his services.