Office of the Historian

501.BC Greece/5–147: Telegram

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

secret
Washington, May 1, 1947—1 p. m.

253. For Ethridge.

1.
BritEmb1 expressed FonOff’s concern report from Windle of emergence in Commission of “centre bloc” led French Del who considers Commission’s report should not draw conclusions from evidence, thus avoiding express attribution blame Greece’s three northern neighbors. According Windle, French Del claims recommendations in themselves imply some allocation blame, and French hope thus preserve united front with Slav bloc. Recommendations proposed French Del would include amnesty, new elections and possibly other matters described by Windle as intervention Greek internal situation. FonOff’s [Page 838] view, it would be lamentable if French take steps Geneva which prejudice agreement majority Commission on logical conclusions drawn from evidence collected and substitute recommendations which would in fact amount to accepting Soviet thesis frontier troubles arise from Greek internal situation.
2.
FonOff instructed its Ambassadors France and Belgium express British view Commission’s primary duty report facts disclosed by investigation and British hope their delegates on Commission will not attempt political maneuvers appease Slav Bloc. FonOff hopes we will similarly instruct our Ambassadors Paris and Brussels and also instruct US representatives China, Brazil and Colombia take joint action along these lines with British colleagues.
3.
Keeley2 has forwarded you report his conversation Tsaldaris April 28 re article appearing Eleftheria. Same day, Dendramis delivered Austin Greek aide-mémoire which claims, inter alia, noticeable tendency in Commission to refrain from fixing responsibility border violations and to recommend that amnesty be granted and measures adopted combat alleged excesses right.
4.
Latest info we have from you re nature Commission’s report (par 5 your 39, April 133) indicates you seek majority concurrence on unequivocable conclusions and recommendations based thereon with hope that nine to two Commission decision will have persuasive effect when SC considers Commission’s report.
5.
Before replying British, would appreciate full info recent developments particular reference questions raised British and Greek memos to us.
6.
Reply your 464 and 485 will follow.

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

Marshall
  1. In a conversation on April 28 between George H. Middleton, First Secretary of the British Embassy and William O. Baxter of the Division of Near Eastern Affairs; latter’s memorandum of conversation not printed (501.BC Greece/4–2847).↩
  2. James H. Keeley, Jr., the Chargé in Greece.↩
  3. Identified also as telegram 106, from Geneva, not printed.↩
  4. Identified also as telegram 164, April 25, 4 p. m., from Geneva, not printed.↩
  5. Not printed, but see footnote 1, p. 840.↩