Foreign Relations of the United States, 1949, The Near East, South Asia, and Africa, Volume VI

868.00/5–1949: Telegram

The Chargé in Greece (Minor) to the Secretary of State

secret

Athens, May 19, 1949—1 p. m.

989. Grivas¹, new Chief Foreign Ministry’s Division American Affairs, today confided that Dendramis reports Gromyko has made proposal re settlement Greek question to McNeil at Lake Success and that McNeil agreed pass proposals to British Government. Dendramis confident Gromyko also submitted same scheme to Rusk (reEmbtel 982, May 18²).

Grivas further revealed that Greek Government after full cabinet discussion has sent circular telegram to representatives in Washington, London, Paris, New York and Belgrade urging that everything possible be done to keep Greek question out of CFM. Greeks feel strongly that their problems with Commies must be kept in UN where they are represented and Greek interests must not be sacrificed to general conciliation behind locked doors of CFM (reEmbtel 954, May 13³). Greek Government declares that Russia will never make concessions to Greece without some quid pro quo: that current Russian interest is obvious sign of weakness; and that Greece should be left as is (with support of US–UK and her position in UN) at least until her swiftly improving military power enables her to settle disputes with northern neighbors on best possible terms.

Embassy would be in much stronger position in discussing questions of this nature if Department could take us into its confidence.

Minor

1. Theodoros Grivas-Gardikiotis.
2. Not printed, but see footnote 2 to telegram 749 to Athens, p. 322.
3. Not printed, but see footnote 1 to telegram 749 to Athens, ibid .