501.BC/9–746: Telegram
The Acting Secretary of State to the United States Acting Representative at the United Nations (Johnson)
us urgent
183. For Herschel Johnson. In light of SC proceedings on Ukrainian complaint against Greece thus far we believe that US should pursue following course for the present:
1. Support request of Albania to appear before Council. (Re Deptel 180 Sept 564) Whether or not Art 32 of Charter forms basis of participation you may in your discretion support laying down of reasonable conditions in accordance with spirit of last sentence that Art.
2. At appropriate stage of debate, following statement of Albanian Representative, we suggest you should make general statement of US position along following lines:
US Govt has during past 2 weeks given careful study to charges contained in Ukrainian letter of Aug 24 concerning situation in Greece. My Govt has been surprised at manner in which Ukrainian Govt has dealt with these grave charges against two Members of UN. US feels that any Member of UN which is concerned about situation should at least make effort to call it to attention of Govts directly involved prior to submitting such case to SC. As matters stood on Aug 24 Ukrainian Govt had, so far as my Govt is aware, made no effort whatsoever to call to attention of either Greek or British Govts situation of which it now complains or to obtain from them any information regarding matter.
We have now heard remarks of Representatives of Ukrainian S.S.R., [Page 203] Greece, UK, USSR (and Albania). In general it may be said that there are three major questions about which there seem to be conflicting allegations and opposing views. First of these is question of border incidents along Greek-Albanian border, second is treatment accorded to national minorities and third relates to presence and activities of British troops in Greece.
My Govt regards Ukrainian charges concerning (a) monarchist propaganda, (b) Greek claim that state of war exists with Albania and (c) Greek elections and referendum, of minor importance to the SC. All shades of opinion have been expressed in Greece and, if I might add, in rather strong terms. Whether state of war exists or not Greece apparently makes this claim in good faith. The fact that she has already made it to Peace Conference in Paris would indicate that it is made without aggressive intent. With respect to elections held last March, I should like to call attention of Ukrainian Representative to the “Report of the Allied Mission to Observe the Greek Elections”, copies of which have been distributed to each member of Council today. Since My Government participated in Allied Mission to observe Greek elections and was, with Governments of France and Great Britain, signatory to this report, it feels that casual manner in which Ukrainian Delegate has cast doubt upon way in which Greek elections were conducted is totally uncalled for and can only stem from willful disregard of facts set forth this report, available to anybody who will take slightest trouble to read it. It may be recalled that Govt of USSR, of which Ukrainian SSR is one, was among those govts invited to observe elections.
US has received only preliminary reports concerning referendum. These reports do not contain any evidence to warrant belief that the manner in which referendum was conducted was a danger to international peace.
Turning now to allegations regarding border incidents and persecution of minorities, I should like first of all to state that while Council cannot dismiss these allegations lightly we believe they must be looked at as symptoms of disturbed situation in whole Balkan area.
As regards border incidents, Ukrainian (and Albanian) Reps, allege that Greece has perpetrated such incidents while Greece contends attacks have been made on her. We do not feel that evidence thus far presented proves either that Greece is alone responsible for these incidents or that her conduct with respect to them creates a situation of concern to the Council.
Under normal circumstances the problem of national minorities within a state is one of domestic concern to that state. It is well known, however, that the problem of national minorities in an area may cause serious friction between states. This is particularly true in Balkan area. Yet I do not think that Council could conclude from facts thus far presented to it that friction asserted in this instance is endangering international peace.
Ukrainian and Soviet Representatives have been most critical of presence of British troops in Greece and have stated that their continued presence is endangering peace and security. My Govt does not share this opinion. On contrary we believe that presence of British [Page 204] forces has been a stabilizing factor. This matter was thoroughly discussed in London at open meetings of SC. At that time US Representative said, and this is still position of my Govt:
“The Government of the United States is satisfied after thorough consideration, that there is no reasonable ground for a belief that the presence of British troops in Greece under the admittedly unhappy circumstances described by the representatives of the United Kingdom and of Greece, can be regarded as constituting a situation which is likely to endanger international peace and security.”
My Govt, therefore, does not see that any useful purpose is served by going into this matter again.65
3. You are authorized in your discretion to support establishment of subcommittee to examine facts in New York, provided terms of reference are satisfactory, (re final para. Deptel 179, Sept. 5) but should not agree to any proposal for on-the-spot investigation without further authorization.
Repeat to Paris as #4675, Secdel 847. Sent to Amdel N. Y. as 183.
- Not printed; it set forth the Department’s view that “under Article 32 of Charter Albania can appropriately be invited as a ‘party to a dispute under consideration’ by SC. Furthermore, even if this broad interpretation of phrase ‘party to a dispute’ is not accepted by Council, we believe that SC could under its general powers invite Albania to participate without vote in discussion of Greek question.” (501.BC/9–546)↩
- For text of statement made by Mr. Johnson before the Security Council on September 9, see SC, 1st yr., 2nd series, p. 273.↩