868.00/3–1648
Memorandum of Conversation, by the Assistant Chief of the Division of Greek, Turkish, and Iranian Affairs (Baxter)
When the Greek Ambassador called today at his request, Mr. Henderson took the opportunity to inform him that, with regard to a recent Greek request for joint military staff consultations, it is the Department’s view that the time is not appropriate for such conversations. [Page 61] Such consultations at this time would in our opinion have little practical advantage and might merely serve to confuse the public mind as to the most acute problems requiring urgent and early solutions. It seems to us that all the national energies of Greece should be concentrated at this time on eliminating the guerrillas. The Greek Ambassador should realize of course that we are seriously concerned about the situation in Greece but that it is merely one part of a much larger picture. The long-term problem of European and Mediterranean security must fit into a pattern which cannot be created piecemeal overnight. Furthermore, there is no possibility that military talks could be kept secret, and Mr. Henderson pointed out the danger that Greece’s northern neighbors might seize upon them as a pretext to take overt action against Greece. Mr. Henderson did not preclude the possibility that changing conditions in the future would modify our present views, and assured the Ambassador that all of these related problems are under constant study.
The Ambassador mentioned again the encouraging effect to the Greek people and the deterrent effect upon Greece’s northern neighbors which would result from a guarantee by the United States alone, or perhaps jointly with France and Great Britain, similar to the British guarantee of Greek integrity given in 1940 at the time of the Italian invasion. In reply, Mr. Henderson pointed out that the views of this Government on the importance of maintaining Greek independence have been made abundantly clear during the past year by both words and actions. In addition to being committed to the Charter of the United Nations, whose principles are based on mutual respect for the independence of member nations, the United States has taken the lead in supporting Greece in the United Nations and in extending substantial assistance through Congressional legislation. We do not feel that we can go any further at this time.1
- Greek Foreign Minister Tsaldaris, on March 15, left with Ambassador Caffery, at Paris, a paper in which he raised questions relating to a possible joint statement by the American, British and French Governments guaranteeing the integrity of Greece and to the initiation of confidential talks between the American and British General Staffs on Greece (telegram 1362, March 15, 7 p. m., from Paris). The Department replied on March 18, in telegram 877, along the lines set forth in Mr. Baxter’s memorandum. The telegraphic exchange with Paris is filed under 868.00/3–1548.↩