501.BC Greece/4–147: Telegram

The Acting Secretary of State to Mr. Mark F. Ethridge, at Geneva

secret
us urgent

89. For Ethridge. In view your 334 from Belgrade April l1 we assume you will not obtain agreement leave team until fixed date as suggested Deptel 185 to Belgrade (repeated Geneva 81) April 1. We have just been asked by BritEmb to reconsider urgently our objection to Brit proposal that you and Windle2 notify Commission you consider it essential to be kept informed developments and would accordingly send back members your Commission as observers.

Dept does not consider such observers could have standing as representatives of Commission. We see no advantage of placing ourselves in position being criticized for unilateral action when actually we feel we can be informed through Missions in Athens, Belgrade, Sofia and Consulate Salonika. We still feel that we cannot accept Brit proposal. However, [Page 831] we are telling BritEmb we are requesting you in your discretion to state in Commission that you are not raising question in Commission again since SC is considering it but that you will nevertheless follow situation closely through American Missions in Athens, Belgrade, Sofia and Consulate Salonika so that you can bring to attention Commission any additional info you consider necessary.

Additional paragraph for Athens, Salonika, Belgrade and Sofia: You are requested follow closely situation subject of investigation and advise Ethridge as well as Dept.

Sent Geneva. Repeated Athens, Salonika, Belgrade, Sofia, London, New York, Moscow for Secretary.

Acheson
  1. Identified also as Ethridge No. 34, not printed.
  2. Richard T. Windle, British Representative on the Commission of Investigation.