868.00/6–846: Telegram
The Chargé in Greece (Rankin) to the Secretary of State
[Received 6:50 p.m.]
755. Parallel communications being sent to Greek Government by British Embassy and US accepting invitation to observe revision electoral registers on understanding Greek Government will undertake loyally to give effect to any mission recommendations to end that referendum when held shall conform to terms and spirit of Yalta Declaration and be so accepted by unprejudiced opinion in Greece and abroad. Without specific mention possible Swedish or Swiss participation which would be infeasible at this late date, note expresses pleasure that other nations have been invited among which UK, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa are understood already to have accepted. Communication notes Greek Government’s promise pay expenses and assumes that free entry and other privileges granted Amfoge will be extended Amfoge II.16 (Deptel 696, June 4, 7 p.m.).
If invitation observe plebiscite should be forthcoming we might then raise possibility of Swedish and/or Swiss participation should we decide to accept.
Acting on Department’s earlier suggestion (Deptel 571, May 4) that current mission might be considered extension of Amfoge British early adopted designation “Amfoge II” which has already been extensively used in military orders and otherwise in connection with operations already under way in Greece. Windle feels moreover and Embassy agrees that widespread confidence built up by Amfoge should not be jettisoned. As five Allies have already agreed participate use of term “Allied” seems entirely appropriate and desirable.17
[Here follows discussion of administrative and technical matters.]
- In telegram 786, June 17, 1946, 5 p.m., Mr. Rankin reported receipt of a note dated June 15 from the Greek Prime Minister which conveyed the agreement of the Greek Government with the terms of the Embassy’s note (868.00/6–1746).↩
- Leland B. Morris was appointed Chief of the United States Section of the Allied Mission To Observe the Revision of the Greek Electoral Lists (telegram 729, June 13, 2 p.m., to Athens, 868.00/6–1346); see also text of Department press release of June 18, Department of State Bulletin, June 30, 1946, p. 1128.↩