760H.68/8–2845: Telegram
The Ambassador in Greece (MacVeagh) to the Secretary of State
[Received August 29—12:30 p.m.]
933. My telegram 781, August 1. Report on conditions Slav population Greek Macedonia prepared by Assistant Military Attaché sent [Page 341] area specially to investigate this subject being forwarded airmail.72 Conclusions this report emphatically do not substantiate “fascist terror” exerted against Slav population which Yugoslav Govt now treating as fact to be investigated instead of allegation to be proved (Belgrade’s unnumbered telegram August 25).73
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Despatch 1453, August 28, 1945, from Athens, not printed. The report by Captain William McNeill gave a lengthy historical review and report on racial conflicts in Macedonia and concluded:
↩“Yugoslav accusations of ‘Fascist terror’ in Greek Macedonia seem hardly to be borne out by the facts. There is bad feeling between Greeks and Slavs, and the peasants of Western Macedonia are apprehensive and generally unwilling or afraid to cooperate with Greek Government authorities. But it appears that the local Greek officials are, for the moment at least, pursuing an inoffensive policy toward the Slavs; whereas it is the Slavic population who are rather taking the offensive by means of the armed bands.
The counter measures taken by Greek and British forces will perhaps hamper the free movement of guerilla bands; but from the wild and mountainous nature of the country, it will certainly not be possible to eradicate them. As long as Yugoslavia wishes to stir up trouble in Greek Macedonia, and Yugoslav officials are willing to give occasional shelter and succor to the bands, they will continue to be able to operate in the hills of Greek Macedonia, and one may expect continued nervousness among the peasants, occasional murders, sudden ambushes, and petty sabotage in the country side.”
- Probably a reference to telegram 403, August 26, from Belgrade, supra.↩