868.00/6–1847: Telegram
The Ambassador in Greece (MacVeagh) to the Secretary of State
919. Deptel 830, June 14.1 Foreign Minister denied to me last night any knowledge of aide-mémoire presented by Greek Ambassador. [Page 203] After consulting his secretary he said believed document based on circular instructions sent all principal Ambassadors several weeks ago directing them stress on all appropriate occasions Greek Government’s views substantially as stated. However appeared genuinely surprised at Ambassador’s action and hence Dendramis may have exceeded instructions in making matter so formal. British colleague uninformed of any parallel démarche in London.
Childish and petulant inaccuracies concerning alleged foreign “intervention” in Greek affairs are unfortunately very characteristic of Tsaldaris in certain moods and any answer the Department may think it worthwhile to return in this regard can be unequivocal. This Embassy has never “requested Greek Government to suspend execution of traitors” or “execute members of the right” though it has urged Greek Government to comply within Commission’s desire for postponement of certain executions to permit pertinent questioning of prisoners (Deptel 146, February 82) and has at times expressed view that law should be applied equally on both right and left (Deptel 449, April 113). Amnesty proposals were expressly put forward as advice on Greece’s interest (mytel 717, May 164) and officially accepted as such. Since assurances received that armed forces will not be increased without consent of US Government which is involved financially (mytel 771, May 26) no “pressure” in this matter has been applied and actually consent has been given for temporary army increase of 20,000 men (Deptel 791[781?], June 7[6?]).
As regards rest of document I fear seriousness of situation not exaggerated (mytel 881, June 13 [12]5 and Gibson’s 80 [48] from Salonika, June 146) and consideration set forth only strengthen my conviction that important military decisions likely necessary in opening stages AMAG’s work (mytel 675, May 105).
In reply my question what he would propose as best remedial action in our power at present Tsaldaris replied SC decision on border report of paramount importance and our aim should not be as he fears it is to avert Russian veto but rather to attract it. In this connection he urged that veto would be good thing as freeing western powers to take such action as they may deem appropriate whereas what is most to be feared is Soviet agreement to inadequate recommendations leaving opportunity open for indefinite continuance of present clandestine but highly effective tactics.
- Not printed; it quoted in telegraphic style the Greek Embassy’s aide-mémoire of June 7 (see p. 196) and requested Athens to furnish suggestions for a reply (868.00/6–1447).↩
- Post, p. 818.↩
- See footnote 1, p. 142.↩
- See footnote 2, p. 170.↩
- Not printed.↩
- Not printed; Raleigh A. Gibson was Consul General at Salonika.↩
- Not printed.↩