868.00/7–1047: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Embassy in Greece
1014. For MacVeagh. During informal conversation with Henderson July 9 Tsaldaris said he was disturbed at contents of telegram just received from his Govt. This telegram indicated that FonOff had received from you note stating that you had been instructed by your Govt to inform Greek Govt that communist leaders should not be arrested until after approval therefor had been obtained from a reorganized Greek Govt which would include members of all Parliamentary parties.1 Tsaldaris said that situation re communists was urgent and that Govt could not afford delay taking action while new govt was being negotiated and organized. Henderson told him there was apparently some kind of misunderstanding since we had not made such [Page 219] suggestion. Following an inquiry made of you in July by PM, we had telegraphed you that in our opinion it would be preferable that Greek Govt before taking steps to arrest communist leaders should obtain in advance approval of leaders of all Greek Parliamentary parties provided such approval could be obtained without delays which would cause further deterioration of situation in Greece.
Henderson added that we had, however, repeatedly informed you that US Govt was extremely anxious that there should be maximum degree of unity among all national-minded Greeks in present emergency and that we considered it extremely important that all Greek leaders regardless of party or personal rivalries begin to cooperate for purpose of saving Greece.
Tsaldaris said that he had had enough experience with coalition govts to know that if new govt embracing all Parliamentary parties should be set up it would fritter months away in long-winded debates and would accomplish little. In order to meet present emergency Greece should have a compact determined govt which would understand what situation demands and would be sufficiently flexible to act quickly and decisively.
- In telegram 1150 July 17, from Athens, Ambassador MacVeagh informed Mr. Henderson that “Alleged ‘note’ referred to by Tsaldaris would appear to be my personal letter to Maximos closely paraphrasing Dept’s expressions in Deptel 967, July 3 and referred to Mytel 1078, July 9. Believe I have not deviated from Dept’s position and government here has given me no signs of misunderstanding.” (868.00/7–1747)↩