868.00/10–746: Telegram
The Ambassador in Greece (MacVeagh) to the Secretary of State
secret
Athens, October 7,
1946—4 p.m.
[Received October 8—12:17 p.m.]
1351. Deptel 1232, September 28 [27].92 In
connection with deterioration situation on Greek northern frontier
following are Assistant
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Military Attaché Miller’s conclusions on basis of personal field survey
of northern provinces terminated September 29. Lt. Col. Miller is
serious, painstaking and reliable officer whose findings so far as they
go (see my top secret telegram 1307 of September 30) I have no
hesitation in endorsing:
- “1. Communist policy as applied to Greece has an immediate
objective of portraying the nation in a state of anarchy. In
application of this policy all forces within the
international Communist organization have been coordinated.
A great deal of aid is secured by advertising their cause as
‘democracy’ opposed to ‘Fascist reaction’. Dissident
elements within Greece have been mobilized by the Communists
and are directed in furtherance of the over-all plan.
Lawlessness of all types whether it be purely for personal
revenge or monetary gain, finds sympathy and aid from the
well organized and militant party.
- 2. The rough mountain ranges running south from the Lake
Prespa region of the Yugoslav and Albanian frontiers afford
a convenient avenue for movement of personnel and supplies
between Thessaly and Greece’s northern neighbors. I talked
to the natives of this district, to British and Greeks
exercising a variety of official functions and to Americans
engaged in consular business, educational, relief, health
and religious pursuits. All had knowledge of the outlaw
bands and it was quite easy to trace the progressive
movement of individual groups on their international
journeys.
- 3. Movement of Left Wing bands across the frontier is
given the tacit approval of Yugoslav and Albanian
authorities. Local demonstrations and minor attacks are made
west of the Struma River at frequent intervals. These
incidents act as diversions. They effectively tie up
two-thirds of the Greek Army in northern Greece and cover
the simultaneous crossing of the frontier by bands.
- 4. At present the main areas affected by Left Wing
terrorism are Thessaly and western Macedonia. In these areas
armed bands have resorted to practically every form of
violence to induce intimidation of the population and to cut
communications. Reinforcements are brought in from the
Athens-Piraeus area and from Left Wing Greeks who crossed
the northern frontier following the Varkiza agreement of
February 1945,93 (Note: The
American Military Attaché in Belgrade estimates that there
are 7,000 troops of this type in southern
Yugoslavia).
- 5. All of the violence in Greece is by no means
attributable to the Left. Royalist extremists, known as
X-ists, operate throughout
the country and there are other brigades representing many
other diverse interests. But none of these groups are
coordinated nor do they receive aid from any national regime
or major political party. These groups often take the role
of local ‘minute men’. They often operate in conjunction
with the local peace officers or Army garrison. Their
methods are crude and their justice is questionable. Their
operations certainly play into the hands of the
Communists.
- 6. Left-wing bands operating in northern Greece find
support from not over 15 percent of the population. They are
supplied and financed
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through the party organization. When
not ‘in the field’ Communist-supported terrorist groups base
north of the Greek frontiers or are protected by local Greek
Communists. The leaders are usually former ELAS (Communists’ military
organization for Greece) with considerable knowledge of army
and explosives. The bands are composed of two categories,
the ‘regulars’ built around ELAS as a nucleus and supported by
Serb-Macedonians; and the ‘sympathizers’ who appear to be
law-abiding citizens by day but who actively give aid at
night.
- 7. Orders are passed and control is maintained by
utilizing the existing party cell system on both sides of
the frontier. This is known as ‘the National Freedom Front’
(translated into Greek and abbreviated as EAM; translated into Serbian
and abbreviated as NOF94).
- 8. With the advent of winter band activity will most
probably diminish throughout Greece. This will probably be
only temporary. It is difficult to see how any Greek
Government can appreciably better the situation without a
fundamental revision in the policy pursued by her northern
neighbors.”
Repeated Paris for Secretary as 93.
