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

501.BC Greece/7–747: Telegram

The Secretary of State to the United States Representative at the United Nations (Austin)

top secret

Washington, July 7, 1947—8 p. m.

298. For Senator Austin. Problem posed in urtel 628 July 2¹ was discussed in meetings in Dept on July 5 and 7 at which Herschel Johnson, Mark Ethridge and J. C. Ross² were present. Unless you perceive any objection, Dept believes U.S. position should be as follows:

1. The United States should stand firmly by the draft resolution submitted by the United States Representative to the Security Council on June 27. The United States should make clear that any proposal designed to narrow or eliminate either (a) the investigatory powers of the proposed commission, or (b) its authority to conduct its investigations in the territory of the three northern neighbors of Greece would be totally unacceptable and vigorously opposed. The fact that the U.S.S.R. may veto the resolution in its present form should not be a cause for deviating in the slightest from this position. Suggested changes of form or minor substantive character may be acceptable depending on their nature. They should, however, be most carefully scrutinized.

2. Should the United States resolution be vetoed and a proposal then be made that a commission be established whose power to investigate would be restricted geographically to Greek territory, the United States should take the position that such a plan is unacceptable (unless the circumstances set forth in paragraph 3 below are present).

3. Should the United States resolution be vetoed and should the Greek Government specifically request that a Security Council Commission be established with power to investigate in Greece incidents stemming from violations of Greek territory, the United States should support such action but only on the following basis:

(a) If there is continuance of the aid to the guerrillas given by Albania, Bulgaria or Yugoslavia referred to in the majority conclusions of the Report of the Investigating Commission, the United States will itself bring the matter to the attention of the Security Council under Chapter VII of the Charter.

(b) The terms of reference of such a commission should be so worded as to ensure that the Commission cannot be used to interfere with the American Program for aid to Greece, or as a platform for Communist attacks against the Greek Government.

(c) In accepting such a proposal, the United States Representative should, at an appropriate occasion, make a statement strongly condemning the attitude of the U.S.S.R. and the three Balkan nations to the north of Greece. The intention of the United States to follow closely all events in the area and to use every available means within the framework of the United Nations to ameliorate the situation should also be made clear.

Marshall

1. Not printed; it advised that “Although feeling here is that there is good chance Soviets will refrain from veto of our resolution on Balkan commission report, we think delegation should be prepared for further action in case veto materializes. This question was discussed today in meeting with Ethridge and Department representatives. The following possibilities were discussed: A. US could introduce or accept resolution providing for semi-permanent commission limited to action in Greece alone, and with terms of reference confined to investigation of border violations . . . . B. US would state in SC its intention to introduce in GA resolution along lines approved by majority of SC . . . . C. US could introduce or accept resolution calling for action under chapter 7, based on new evidence gathered by subsidiary group . . . . D. US could announce that it intends to take matter to GA and propose that the subsidiary group remain in existence until GA considers question.” (501.BC Greece/7–247)
2. Deputy to Ambassador Austin.