868.014/11–1947: Telegram
The Acting Secretary of State to the Embassy in Greece
1857. While in US, Tsaldaris requested Dept publicly indicate approval of Greek ratification Italian peace treaty and our willingness to support Greek desire to present claim re Northern Epirus before CFM at some appropriate time. Such declaration, Tsaldaris states, would obviate necessity for Greece to raise this claim in UN debates on revision of Italian peace treaty. Dept believes Greek action in UN on this matter highly undesirable as would lend substance to Soviet charges that Greece has aggressive intentions in Balkans and is cause of unrest in area. Dept does not support Greek claim to Northern Epirus but support for Greek presentation of claim before CFM at appropriate time indicated by Secy Byrnes to Tsaldaris in Paris Sept 1946 and promised by Dept in letters to Congressmen in Jan 1947.
In view of above Dept has decided to issue following statement and will notify you of release date:
[Here follows statement made by Acting Secretary of State Lovett, which was released on November 21; for text, see Department of State Bulletin, November 30, 1947, page 1058.]
[Page 416]Pls inform Gk Govt that US does not consider present as “appropriate time” mentioned in statement and would be unable to agree to consideration any Gk claims at forthcoming CFM meeting.
Sent Athens 1857; rpt Rome 2408.