868.00/7–947
Memorandum of Conversation, by the Deputy Director of the Office of Near Eastern and African Affairs (Villard)
| Participants: | The Secretary of State |
| The Secretary of War | |
| The Secretary of the Navy | |
| The Secretary of the Treasury | |
| Ed. H. Foley, Jr., Assistant Secretary of the Treasury | |
| William C. Foster, Acting Secretary of Commerce | |
| Governor Dwight P. Griswold, Chief, American Mission for Aid to Greece | |
| Governor Robert Leroy Cochran, Deputy Chief, AMAG | |
| Robert A. Lovett, Under Secretary of State | |
| Loy W. Henderson, Director, NEA | |
| Henry S. Villard, Deputy Director, NEA | |
| Dean Rusk, Director, SPA | |
| George C. McGhee, C/GT |
The meeting was called at Governor Griswold’s request in order that he might consult with top-ranking officials of the United States Government before his departure as Chief of the American Mission for Aid to Greece. Mr. Lovett explained the purpose of the meeting and invited Governor Griswold to open the discussion.
Governor Griswold asked several questions as to the policy of this Government in Greece and requested information for his guidance in regard to a number of matters. He indicated that he was interested particularly in such questions as the possibility of reorganizing the Greek Government; his relations with Ambassador MacVeagh and the jurisdiction of each; the course to be followed in the event that the fighting in Greece developed into a civil war such as had taken place in Spain; the security of members of his staff in case the situation proved serious; and what advice he should offer to the Greek Government in the event of a large-scale attack by Communist forces. Governor Griswold said that he might be inclined to be more firm in his attitude toward the Greek Government than the Ambassador; and that he had been led to believe by newspapermen with whom he had talked that his immediate task should be to change or reorganize the Greek Government.
At the request of the Secretary, Mr. Henderson outlined the Department’s policy with respect to the composition of the Greek Government. Mr. Henderson said that we agreed entirely with Governor [Page 216] Griswold in his feeling that certain changes might be necessary, and that the Mission would probably encounter obstructions or a lack of cooperation from certain officials, who would have to be eliminated. In doing so, it would however be necessary to proceed discreetly, in order to avoid creating resentment on the part of other officials as well as the Greek people. It would be desirable that any changes in the Government which might seem desirable should be effected in such a manner that the Greeks would feel they themselves had brought about the changes. For this purpose it would probably be advisable to establish regular channels of discussion at a high level. We felt strongly that in all matters affecting the political situation in Greece or possible changes in high level Greek officials it would be important for Governor Griswold to have the advice of Ambassador MacVeagh, who is, by experience and familiarity with the problem, in a position to offer sound guidance.
The Secretary agreed with Mr. Henderson, pointing out that all our activities in Greece would be under close scrutiny and subject to criticism from various sources in any event. It would be expected that the Communists in particular would attack the operations of the Mission, but there was little we could actually do about this.
Mr. Rusk said there were two points in which we were interested from the United Nations standpoint. We had undertaken to do everything feasible to permit United Nations observation of our activities in Greece and our record should therefore be designed to avoid charges of imperialism. On the other hand, the Security Council was seized with the Greek problem and we should remember that our case rested on the proven activities of Greece’s northern neighbors in assisting the Communist movement in Greece.
The question of Governor Griswold’s public relations was discussed. It was felt that great caution should be exercised by the Mission in its relations with the press, particularly in regard to dealing with newspapermen who were interested in the sensational side of the picture. Secretary Forrestal suggested that before leaving for Greece Governor Griswold should have a frank talk with such persons as Sulzberger of the New York Times, Roy Howard of the Scripps-Howard papers, and the heads of the United Press and Associated Press. It would be advisable to discuss with them their representation in Greece and to suggest such changes therein as might be feasible before and not after Governor Griswold reached Greece.
The Secretary stress[ed] the need for cooperation in dealing with the press and warned that members of the Mission should be careful not to indulge in indiscriminate conversation on political matters.