868.00/3–447
Memorandum of Conversation, by the Acting Secretary of State1
| Participants: | Mr. Acheson |
| Lord Inverchapel, British Ambassador | |
| Mr. Henderson, Director, NEA |
At his request, the British Ambassador called upon me today for the purpose of handing me the attached aide-mémoire2 with regard to aid to Greece and Turkey.
Upon handing me the aide-mémoire, the Ambassador pointed out that his Government had instructed him particularly to impress upon the American Government the fact that, in view of the financial situation of Great Britain, it would be impossible for the British Government to incur further expenditures with regard to Greece other than the two-million-pounds-a-month loan for April, May and June.
I asked the Ambassador if he had any information with regard to what present Greek commitments were to Great Britain. I said that it was rather important that we would be in a position to assure Congress, if queried, that American financial assistance to Greece to enable that country to meet its needs for foreign currency would not be used to pay services on Greek indebtedness to Great Britain. The Ambassador stated that he was sure nothing of the kind was in the mind of the British Government. He would, however, inquire regarding what Greece might be called upon to pay Great Britain in the form of services on indebtedness during the next few years.
The Ambassador also said that his Government had instructed him to assure the American Government of the cooperation of Great Britain in supporting the political and territorial integrity of Greece to the extent of its ability.