501.AA/7–2646
Memorandum of Conversation, by Mr. William O. Baxter of the Division of Near Eastern Affairs
| Participants: | Mr. Paul Economou-Gouras, Greek Chargé d’Affaires |
| Mr. Henderson (NEA) | |
| Mr. Baxter (NE) |
Mr. Economou-Gouras, Greek Chargé d’Affaires, called this afternoon at his request and presented Mr. Henderson with a note42 expressing the strong opposition of the Greek Government to the admission of Albania to the United Nations at this time.
One of the main arguments advanced by Mr. Gouras for this stand was the fact that Greece still considers itself at war with Albania. [Page 186] Mr. Henderson pointed out that, though the United States had not yet recognized the present Albanian regime, nor established diplomatic relations with it, our attitude throughout the war was that Albania was a puppet of Italy and therefore not to be held responsible for its hostile declarations against various Allied nations.43
In connection with the statement, contained in the Greek note, that Greece had declared war on Albania by a Royal decree on November 10, 1940, Mr. Henderson remarked that as far as he knew the Department had no record of this declaration of war nor had it, to his knowledge, been referred to any earlier Greek notes concerning Albania, particularly a request about a year ago that Albania be declared an enemy State. He requested Mr. Gouras to supply the Department with a photostat copy of this decree.
Mr. Henderson assured Mr. Gouras that the views of the Greek Government concerning Albania membership in the United Nations would receive sympathetic consideration and be immediately made available to the appropriate US officials.
- No. 3807, July 25, not printed.↩
- For attitude of Department officials on this matter, see footnote 26, vol. iii, p. 257.↩