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

868.002/9–947: Telegram

The Ambassador in Greece (MacVeagh) to the Secretary of State

confidential

Athens, September 9, 1947—5 p. m.

1549. Having been informed through usually reliable sources that arrangement might have been reached between Tsaldaris and Sophoulis whereby former would retain Stratos as War Minister and latter be guaranteed retirement of all Lieutenant Generals now on active list, including Spiliotopoulos, Inspector General, Vendiris, C. of S., and Yiantzis, Army Commander, and appointment of others to take their places. I arranged meeting yesterday afternoon between Minister Foreign Affairs and British Ambassador, Governor Griswold and myself for purpose supporting views of Generals Rawlins and Livesay who greatly alarmed and opposed to wholesale changes in command (mytel 1540, September 6¹).

I told Tsaldaris that now new government had been formed² which we hoped would continue till general elections, we three desired emphasize importance of maximum collaboration between Government and British and American missions functioning in Greece. I reminded him of his own interests so often expressed in AMAG collaboration with Ministries of Finance and Coordination as well as others, and then went on to say that we had been disturbed by rumors of possible immediate widespread personnel changes in army command. In this connection, I strongly urged that in interest of continued assistance of our missions so badly needed by Greece no changes in command should be made except in agreement with Generals Rawlins and Livesay. Both Norton and Griswold backed me up, adding that as morale of army is bound be affected by such changes, these should be as few as possible at this time.

Tsaldaris replied he was glad we had brought up question and that he was wholly in accord with our attitude. Said he had heard of some proposals in this connection, but nothing had as yet been decided. Denied any agreement with Sophoulis in matter, and said he would give question his attention in coordinating committee of five composed of two Sophoulis Ministers and two of his own over which he is to preside. In reply to his protestations that his party strongly opposed army changes, we told him we were not speaking to him as party leader but as Minister Foreign Affairs, and both I and Norton charged him directly with acquainting his Govt with our views, emphasizing that we are not interested in individual appointments or retirements, but only in having an army set-up with which our missions can collaborate. We also said that though we felt it incumbent on us to speak to him as Minister Foreign Affairs first, we should be glad to speak to Prime Minister also should latter desire it.

MacVeagh

1. Not printed.
2. Telegram 1547, September 8, from Athens, reported that Themistocles Sophoulis became Prime Minister on September 7, heading a Liberal-Populist coalition, including also one member of the Panhellenic National Party. Mr. Tsaldaris was Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs (868.002/9–847).