501.BC Greece/4–1447: Telegram
The Acting Secretary of State to Mr. Mark F. Ethridge, at Geneva
secret
Washington, April 14,
1947—7 p. m.
140. For Ethridge.
- 1.
- Dept agrees with you (re Ethridge No. 341) that border control regulations should have primary purpose of confining nationals of each state within respective borders, and that primary responsibility for this should rest with governments of states concerned. We also agree with you that objectives of paragraph 1 (a) of Deptel 200 to Athens can be achieved without participation of neutral observers, and feel that details should be worked out by you. In this connection the Secretariat of the continuing Commission might include officers who would be experts on border regulations, whose appointment could be subject to confirmation by Commission to avoid possibility of partiality, and whose purpose would be to investigate border incidents at direction of Commission and to advise Commission on technical aspects of violations.
- 2.
- Re attachment of liaison officers to continuing Commission. We do not believe that such officers, to whom Greeks strenuously object, are necessary in view of our concept of continuing Commission as analogous to local SC. Complaints could be brought to Commission’s attention and participation by any of four states concerned in consideration of matters before Commission could be arranged by procedures similar to those employed in SC. However, if it is necessary to agree to some provision for liaison officers, you should press for strict limitations on their number and on scope of their activities.
- 3.
- Please advise whether Commission intends to incorporate in report details re membership, staffing, financing and location of Commission’s headquarters.
Sent Geneva. Repeated Athens, Salonika, Belgrade, Sofia, New York, London, Moscow for the Secretary.
Acheson