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

868.00/12–345

The British Embassy to the Department of State ³⁵

Aide-Mémoire

Mr. Bevin in his speech in Parliament on November 23rd,³⁶ referred to His Majesty’s Government’s concern at the deterioration in the economic and financial situation of Greece and to His Majesty’s Government’s willingness to help by providing technical assistance and advice. Before he left Greece, Mr. McNeil discussed these proposals with M. Tsouderos, who agreed that there were many subjects in the field of economics and finance on which the Greek Government would welcome the advice of foreign experts.

His Majesty’s Government are therefore considering the possibility of setting up an Advisory Economic Mission for Greece. Speed is clearly essential and it has therefore been tentatively arranged that Major General P. G. W. Clark, C. B. M. C. should act as head of the Mission and should go to Athens in about a week’s time on a short exploratory visit. Major General Clark has had wide administrative experience throughout the war and was recently head of the SHAEF³⁷ Mission in the Netherlands where he made an outstanding success of the military relief scheme.

His Majesty’s Government very much hope that the United States Government may be willing to co-operate with them in assisting Greece to restore her shattered economy. Mr. Bevin therefore enquires whether the United States Government would agree that the Advisory Mission would be a joint Anglo-American Mission. His Majesty’s Government’s thought is that the Mission would not have executive powers but would plan the various phases of reconstruction with appropriate Greek officials and would then use its influence to see that the decisions reached were put into effect. M. Tsouderous has made it clear this is the only basis on which the Greek Government could accept a foreign mission, since Greek public opinion would never tolerate any arrangement which infringed Greek sovereignty.

In informing the Department of State of the foregoing, His Majesty’s Ambassador has been instructed to express Mr. Bevin’s hope that His Majesty’s Government and the United States Government “may act together in this matter and agree to make it a joint venture.

The Department of State have doubtless heard already of this proposal from Mr. MacVeagh, who was kept informed of His Majesty’s Government’s intentions by Mr. McNeil. In view of the great urgency of the matter, Mr. Bevin has gone ahead with the selection of Major General Clark but the detailed composition of the Mission has in no way been fixed and His Majesty’s Government’s final views on this will depend to a large extent on Major General Clark’s report after his preliminary visit, and on the views of the United States Government, since His Majesty’s Government would welcome the appointment of United States experts in any or all of the fields to be covered by the proposed Mission.³⁸

Washington , December 3, 1945.

35. Handed to Samuel Reber of the Office of European Affairs on December 4.
36. Parliamentary Debates, House of Commons, 5th series, vol. 416, col. 767.
37. Supreme Headquarters, Allied Expeditionary Forces.
38. The British Minister (Makins) sent to Mr. Reber on December 13 the text of an announcement to be made at London on the Clark Mission to Greece and reiterated the desire of the British Foreign Office that the Mission be a joint venture (868.50 Porter/12–1345).