868.00/2–2048
Memorandum by Mr. William O. Baxter of the Division of Greek, Turkish, and Iranian Affairs to the Director of the Office of Near Eastern and African Affairs (Henderson)
Subject: Greek Request for Joint Anglo-American-Greek Staff Talks.
When the Greek Ambassador called on you recently he left a letter addressed to the Secretary enclosing a memorandum1 suggesting early consultation by the American, British, and Greek military staffs to clarify allied plans for the use of Greek forces or Greek territory in the event of the outbreak of large-scale hostilities. It is stated that the Greek General Staff has decided to oppose any aggression with all its capabilities, and has since last September worked out a plan of defense, one item of which is based on the assumption that the Greek Army will need ultimately to rely on allied assistance which it anticipates [Page 57] will be forthcoming in view of past assurances. The Greek Government considers it a matter of urgency that a common plan of action should be worked out in order that preparations for eventual implementation can be made.
Mr. Maclean of the British Embassy informed me that a similar communication was made in London by the Greek Ambassador and that the Foreign Office expressed the hope that no reply would be made to the Greeks prior to an exchange of British and American views on this subject. I assured Mr. Maclean that we would discuss this matter with the British Embassy before making any reply. Mr. Maclean also informed me that the initial reaction of the Foreign Office was distinctly unfavorable.
This Greek memorandum is another indication of the Greek preoccupation with the distant future to the exclusion of the immediate problem in hand, that of overcoming the guerrillas in the shortest possible time. Recent telegrams from Athens underline the fact that many Greek officials are obsessed with the idea of getting the United States so deeply committed in Greece that it will be unable to withdraw if the Greeks themselves lie down on the job. If you agree, a reply will be drafted to the Greek Ambassador after discussion and correlation of views with the British Embassy stating th[at] this Government does not consider the time appropriate for such consultations as those suggested by the Greek Government and reiterating our view that all efforts of the Greek high command at the present time should be concentrated on the urgent problem of restoring internal security to Greece. If the guerrilla threat cannot be eliminated within the next few months it may be academic to discuss the role of Greece in any future major conflict. Copies of the memorandum and of our reply would be circulated for information and comment to all appropriate offices of the Department and agencies of the Government.
- Letter No. 353 and memorandum, both dated February 20; neither printed.↩