868.00 (P)/4–1548: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the American Mission for Aid to Greece
Gama 885. For Griswold and Rankin.1 Re Gama 872, Embtel [ Deptel ] 706.2 House Appropriations Committee report recommends cut Grk-Turk military funds to $200 million, justifying recommendation [Page 103] on (a) assumption guerrilla warfare will be successfully concluded in late 1948, which would permit curtailment of military assistance, and (b) existence of substantial “unobligated” balance of fiscal 1948 funds as of April 30, 1948. Dept providing full info concerning dangers of assumption under (a), and pointing out that legal obligation figure does not reflect true status of funds since all are committed. Dept emphasizing full $275 million needed to assure success of program, and pointing out obvious dangers of any lesser amount.3 Will keep you informed of developments.
Wld be helpful in future discussions with Congressional leaders or in communications to Congress if Griswold as Chief of AMAG wld telegraph his reaction proposed reduction, based on discussions with Van Fleet.4
- This telegram was sent jointly to the Embassy in Greece as No. 720.↩
- This joint telegram to AMAG and the Embassy, dated June 3, not printed.↩
- Thus, on June 10 and 14, respectively, the Department sent appropriate letters to Senators Styles Bridges and Henry Cabot Lodge, Jr. (800.FAA/6–1048, 868.00/6–1448).↩
- The Department sent a parallel telegram (No. 277) to Ambassador Wilson the same day (868.00/6–448).↩