868.00/7–1147
The Ambassador in Greece (MacVeagh) to the Secretary of State
No. 5185
Sir: I have the honor to transmit herewith a report, as published in the EAM English-language press bulletin, of the speech delivered on June 27 to the French Communist Congress at Strasbourg by Mr. Miltiades Porfyrogennis, Secretary of the Control Committee of KKE and legal expert of the Party. Also transmitted are texts of the Government News Bulletin’s comment and of the remarks and declarations made to the press in regard to Mr. Porfyrogennis’ speech by Government and opposition leaders (Messrs. Tsaldaris, Gonatas, Papandreou, Sophoulis, Tsouderos and Mylonas) and by the ELD Socialist Party.1 These have already been reported to the Department [Page 226] in summary form in my telegrams No. 1018 of July 2 and 1034 of July 3.2
The gist of Mr. Porfyrogennis’ remarks lies in his assertion that Communist objectives in Greece can only be achieved through the military action of an expanded “Democratic Army”, in his appeal to world Communism for “definite, tangible and total assistance”, and in his announcement that as a result of “Anglo-American intervention and monarcho-fascist intransigence” the situation in Greece “is crystallizing towards the formation of a Free Democratic Greece with its own Government and its own status as a State”. These remarks, as the Department will observe from the enclosures, have drawn strong condemnation from representatives of virtually the whole gamut of Greek non-Communist opinion, though the important liberal leader, Mr. Sophoulis, as well as the ELD Socialist Party, a fellow-travelling group whose only political significance is the apparent appeal of its title to progressive opinion outside of Greece (see my despatch No. 5110 of June 233) take the opportunity of blaming the government and the Eight generally, for things having come to such a pass.
[Here follows further general comment by the Ambassador.]
I realize that the above is very much in the realm of speculation. But the matter itself is speculative, though it may not remain so long. Perhaps the most that can be said with finality regarding Soviet policy towards Greece at the present time is that the Truman Doctrine, as implemented to date, has by no means caused any diminution in the vigor and variety of the Slavo-Communist attack against Greek integrity and independence.
Respectfully yours,