102.1/7–1849: Telegram
The Ambassador in Greece (Grady) to the Secretary of State
1393. Deptel 1097, July 16.1 Arrangements have now been made and all plans going forward for Snyder and party visit Athens from Friday noon, July 22 to Sunday morning, July 24.
Decision Secretary Snyder to skip Athens was based on following telegram which I sent him July 11:
“I thought you would like to know that Greeks are planning to use your visit as means of agitating for devaluation of drachma and for increased United States aid. They have used similar tactic on occasion visits other important Americans which has served to confuse our operations and excite Greek public. In view this situation which may cause you embarrassment and since I will be in US at time your contemplated visit, you may wish reconsider usefulness your visit here at this time. Please be assured if you decide to come that you will be most welcome and that interesting programs will be arranged. If there is any change however would appreciate early notice in order that arrangements now in process may be cancelled.” The Secretary replied that in view of what I said he would not stop here. I announced to the press that because of the tightness of his schedule, the Secretary could not stop at Athens.
Mytel was sent after careful consideration. It was based on fact that our operations have been confused and delayed by tactic which Greek Government follows of using occasion visits important Americans to by-pass Embassy and ECA mission and lobby with these officials in controversial matters which they have difficulty putting [Page 372] over in Athens. Thus, ‘Secretaries Marshall and Royall were embarrassed by frontal attack of Greeks on matters of increased aid and size of Greek Army.
Greeks have been preparing veritable campaign for Snyder (and in meantime doing little else) including such questions as additional aid for Greece, Diomedes pet project of devaluating currency, salaries of civil servants, tax on imports, and refugee situation. As example, newspaper Eleftheria July 15 stated: “The general impression prevailing last night was that decision on all the pending economic issues will be made after the talks to be held with the American Secretary for the Treasury, Mr. Snyder.”
Result of this situation has been to bring about practically a stalemate in government economic operation and give scope to Greek tendency to play one American against another and by-pass local American officials. This reached such proportion that I was forced to speak to Prime Minister about it. I was of course entirely aware that Greeks would be annoyed with Secretary’s decision not to stop in Athens and I intended that this would be [garble]. I felt it was time they received an object lesson in proper cooperation. I cannot agree with Department that there would be serious repercussions indicating a change in policy regarding Greece or that it would decrease to any appreciable degree the prestige of the new government. Such criticism as they would receive would be offset by the advantage of transferring their energies from preparation for lobbying to the business of getting things done.
Athens press today bears out my views. Vima states “the inept handling of our case by the government is at least partly responsible for the calling off of Snyder’s trip to Athens; thanks to the understanding of US mission officials, however, solution to our problems will be sought as energetically as if the Secretary had come.” Akropolis comments “now that Snyder is not expected, the government has no excuse in postponing action on the salary question”.
I believe that an Ambassador on the spot is in better position to judge need for such actions and to assess their possible repercussions. But an appeal on behalf of Snyder’s visit has been made to the White House and the appeal has been successful. I will now have even more difficulty in keeping the Greeks in a more realistic and cooperative line of action.2
- In his telegram 1533, July 16, to Secretary of the Treasury John W. Snyder in Rome, not printed, repeated to Athens as 1097, Secretary of State Acheson explained that President Truman had sought his advice concerning the possibility that Secretary Snyder might skip his prearranged visit to Athens. Although he felt he was not in full possession of the facts influencing Secretary Snyder in his decision to cancel the visit, Secretary Acheson pointed out that the cancellation could have serious repercussions in United States relations with Greece by possibly indicating some change in policy at a critical time in the Greek civil war. Secretary Acheson also felt that the cancellation would also unquestionably serve to decrease the prestige of the new Diomedes government, give rise to much speculation among the Greeks, and would produce a variety of erroneous but possibly damaging reasons in explanation. (102.1/7–1649)↩
- In telegram 1111, July 19, to Athens, not printed, Assistant Secretary of State McGhee expressed regret over the misunderstanding that had arisen over the visit of Secretary Snyder to Athens. Complete confidence in Ambassador Grady’s judgments was assured. The telegram also expressed the conviction that Secretary Snyder would back up the Ambassador’s position in his conversations with Greeks and would thereby strengthen the Ambassador’s position by emphasizing his authority and making American policy crystal clear (102.1/7–1849).↩