Editorial Note
Under Secretary of State Lovett directed a memorandum, on July 15, to the Secretary of State calling attention to the “serious turn for the worse” the Greek situation had taken the last three days. The concluding paragraph of his memorandum stated: “In these circumstances, I recommend that you consider advising the President and the Joint Chiefs of Staff of the gravity of the situation, pointing out the possibility of civil war and of circumstances of a seriousness approaching that which existed in Iran and which caused the President to call a top policy meeting with the Joint Chiefs of Staff, resulting in the top secret message to Paris, No. 4122, Secdel 676, of August 15, 1946, [Page 237] 6 p. m., a copy of which is attached for your information.” (868.00/7–1547); for the text of telegram 4122, see Foreign Relations, 1946, volume VII, page 840.
In a further memorandum to the Secretary, on July 16, Marshall S. Carter, Special Assistant to General Marshall, stated: “Admiral Leahy called Mr. Forrestal to state that the President was concerned about the Greek situation and Leahy asked Forrestal if the Navy had any information on it.
“Forrestal called Lovett to find out what the State Department had on it.
“Lovett told Forrestal that the Secretary was communicating a memorandum to the President on this matter. Further that the report in the New York Times this morning was to the best of our knowledge substantially correct.
“Your memorandum to the President is in preparation now. In view of the above, I suggest you call the President on the telephone and tell him that you will have a memorandum over there today.” (868.00/7–1547)
The Secretary noted marginally: “I telephoned a message to the President.”
For the memorandum to President Truman which incorporated the bulk of Mr. Lovett’s memorandum of July 15, except for the last paragraph, see infra.