Office of the Historian

660H.119/3–249: Telegram

The Secretary of State to the Embassy in Greece

secret
Washington, March 2, 1949—6 p. m.

288. When notified by Harriman that OEEC countries with whom US seeking agreement on control exports to Eastern Eur (in which Greece not included) are to be apprised revised policy US exports Yugo (Deptel 234, Feb 221), you shld inform Pipinelis2 and/or other competent Grk officials revised US policy, emphasizing arguments (Deptel 256 Feb 253) underlying decision not to insist on political concessions from Tito at this time in advance of relaxation export and trade controls. Point out that one of main objectives in embarking on revised attitude toward Tito is to effect lasting change in Yugo policy toward Greece but that we are convinced Tito would be forced to reject any direct approach along those lines under present circumstances. We believe situation such that apparently slow and indirect route may in long run lead to most satisfactory and permanent solution. Urge Grk officials treat info as highly confidential for much [Page 877] of anticipated success depends on gradual and unpublized implementation approved recommendations.4

Complete text NSC document embodying recommendations being airmailed.5

Harriman pls advise Athens appropriately.6

Acheson
  1. Not printed; see footnote 2 to telegram 92 to Belgrade, p. 873.↩
  2. Panoyotis Pipinelis, Greek Permanent Undersecretary of State for Foreign Affairs.↩
  3. Same as telegram 92, February 25, to Belgrade, p. 873.↩
  4. Telegram 511, March 17, from Athens, not printed, reported that the views set forth in this message had that day been conveyed to Pipinelis who expressed warm agreement with the policy and with the reasoning that led thereto. Pipinelis believed and the Embassy concurred that possible Greek public and press reaction gave no cause for concern and ought not to deter or impair implementation of U.S. and Greek policies (660H.119/3–1749).↩
  5. A copy of NSC 18/2, February 17, was transmitted to the Embassy in Athens as an enclosure to instruction 45, March 5, not printed (660H.119/3–549).↩
  6. This telegram was repeated to Paris for Harriman as 659 and to Belgrade as 99.↩