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

868.00/3–447

The British Embassy to the Department of State

secret

Ref: G58/—/47

Aide-Mémoire

His Majesty’s Government in the United Kingdom have studied the State Department’s Aide-Mémoire of March 1st concerning Greece and Turkey.

2. As they understand it the position of the United States Government with regard to assistance to Greece is that they agree as to the importance of maintaining the political and territorial integrity of that country and that they have therefore decided to apply to Congress for authority to furnish financial assistance to Greece of such quantity that His Majesty’s Government for their part will thereafter be relieved of any financial responsibility for Greece. On this assumption His Majesty’s Government have considered the United States Government’s suggestion that His Majesty’s Government should continue their help on an emergency basis in order to prevent a collapse of the Greek situation between the 31st March and the date of American assistance becoming available. They have decided, in spite of their own financial difficulties and in response to the United States Government’s request, to make available to Greece, in addition to the two million pounds they have already decided to offer, further contributions of two million pounds a month for the maintenance of the armed forces until American aid becomes effective and for a period not exceeding three months. This contribution would be in the form of a loan.

3. At the same time His Majesty’s Government are very ready to give assurances that it is their intention to continue to the extent of their ability fully to cooperate in advancing the political and territorial integrity of Greece. They are also prepared to discuss on the lines proposed in the State Department’s Aide-Mémoire under reference the military, financial, economic and administrative needs of Greece.

4. As regards British forces in Greece, His Majesty’s Government wish to take this opportunity to state that they intend to carry out the decision they arrived at long ago. They will reduce their troops to one brigade by 31st March; that brigade will be withdrawn during the summer. Mr. Bevin explained to Mr. Byrnes that His Majesty’s Government could not keep their troops in Greece after Soviet troops had been withdrawn from Bulgaria as they are bound to be ninety days after the entry into force of the Bulgarian Treaty. There was considerable feeling among all parties in the House of Commons on the 3rd March when a press report appeared to the effect that the United States Government were going to make the grant of assistance to Greece conditional on British troops remaining in the country. This was all the more embarrassing as His Majesty’s Government have shortly to obtain a supplementary vote for eighteen million pounds for the Greek forces. They therefore found it necessary to issue a statement to the press in the terms annexed to this Aide-Mémoire.¹

5. The observations concerning Greece in paragraph three above apply equally to Turkey but His Majesty’s Government agree with the United States Government that the problems of Greece should be given priority as being more urgent.

6. In communicating the offer of continued financial assistance referred to in paragraph two above to the Greek Government it will be necessary to inform them whether His Majesty’s Government agree that the proposed reorganisation of the Greek forces, to enable them to undertake early operations against the bandits, should be put into effect. The present intention of His Majesty’s Government would be to inform the Greek Government that they would see no objection to these proposals being put into effect provided that this can be done within the limits of the financial assistance His Majesty’s Government are now prepared to offer, namely two million pounds on account of equipment plus two million pounds a month as a loan for maintenance for a period not exceeding three months until American financial assistance becomes effective. His Majesty’s Government desire to learn as a matter of urgency whether the United States Government agree with this proposed communication to the Greek Government.

Washington, 4 March 1947.

1. The statement read: “With reference to reports in the press that conversations with the United States Government are proceeding on the basis that British troops will be retained in Greece it is learnt in authoritative circles that there is no change in present arrangements for the reduction of British forces in Greece nor in the Government’s decision to withdraw the remainder as soon as practicable.”