Foreign Relations of the United States, 1946, The Near East and Africa, Volume VII

868.00/5–746

Memorandum by the Acting Secretary of State to President Truman

Washington, May 7, 1946.

Subject: Allied Assistance in Preparations for Greek Plebiscite.

The recently formed Greek Government, wishing to announce definite plans for a plebiscite at the first meeting of Parliament on May 13, desires an indication from the Allies who participated in observing the Greek elections that the date for the plebiscite will be agreeable to them and that they will assist in observing the revision of electoral rolls, thus offering some guarantee of validity for the vote.

On May 6, in Paris, Mr. Bevin addressed a note to the Secretary expressing the hope that the United States Government would be willing to send a small group of technical advisers to Greece to assist in this revision, which could probably be accomplished in three or four months. The Secretary believes that, unless further contradictory information is forthcoming, the latest possible date for holding the Greek plebiscite this year would be September 15. With your approval, he wishes to reply favorably on May 8 to Mr. Bevin’s note.

It is considered desirable that the United States should participate on a small scale with France and Great Britain in observing preparations for the Greek plebiscite, and you may wish to authorize for this purpose the use of some of the unexpended funds from the budget set up for the Greek election mission, which was carried out at much less expense than anticipated.

If you approve, I shall inform the Secretary that this Government is prepared to accept an invitation from the Greek Government to participate with the British and French in assisting to recompile the Greek electoral registers.¹

Dean Acheson

1. President Truman’s approval was given in a marginal notation on May 7. The Secretary of State was notified of the President’s action in telegram Secdel 210 (No. 2158 to Paris) the same day (868.00/5–646). Mr. Byrnes thereupon, in a note on May 8 informed Mr. Bevin that the Government of the United States was prepared to accept a formal invitation from the Greek Government to provide the necessary observers and that the Government of the United States considered the autumn of 1946 as a satisfactory time for holding the plebiscite (telegram Delsec 478 (No. 2252 from Paris), May 9, 4 p.m., 740.00119 Council/5–946).