Foreign Relations of the United States, 1947, The Near East and Africa, Volume V

868.00/9–647: Telegram

Governor Dwight P. Griswold to the Secretary of State

top secret

Athens, September 6, 1947—noon.

Amag 188. To McGhee from Griswold. Re Gama 104.¹ Greek Government can take following measures to make effective present strength in anti-guerrilla war.

1. Choose strong-minded PriMin and Minister of War who will fully support top command in applying sound offensive principles. Army commander in northern area needs more complete authority in using troops and in replacing inefficient officers.

2. Political influence should be removed which is now causing disposal of troops throughout villages instead of using them in offensive operations. Political pressure also applied to oppose replacement of inefficient officers.

3. Immediate steps must be taken to indoctrinate Greek Army with offensive spirit through hardening personnel, appropriate tactical training and freeing commander from fear of exercising individual initiative. This spirit must start at top and have full support of PriMin and entire Cabinet.

4. Am considering meeting with entire new Greek Cabinet when organized to demand action described above.

5. Considered necessary also that pipeline of reserves be organized with replacements being regularly fed into army so that older soldiers and those who have served several years can expect early replacement. This considered necessary to bolster morale. This pipeline program may necessitate increase in army but approval of this must be withheld until complete Cabinet approval given to matters described in paragraphs 1 to 3.

Griswold

1. Dated August 21; it requested a summary of specific qualitative measures that Governor Griswold and his military advisers had in mind for the Greek Government to take for making an effective anti-guerrilla force of the Greek Army at its present strength (868.00/8–2147).