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

768.75/8–649: Telegram

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

secret

Athens, August 6, 1949—5 p. m.

1552. British Chargé Crosthwaite has telegraphed Foreign Office that notwithstanding British Ambassador’s and Foreign Office’s recent warning to Greeks against military incursions into Albania, he feels possibility still exists of Greek military action across Albanian frontier. He reports that in private conversation August 3, Prime Minister Diomedes expressed view that guerrilla use of Albania as base imposed intolerable strain on Greece, that while latter had no aggressive intentions whatever GNA troops might be forced enter Albania for purely military considerations. Prime Minister, Crosthwaite states, listened patiently but was apparently unimpressed with his caution against GNA crossing Albanian frontier.

According Crosthwaite, BMM advices indicate GNA troops dispositions in border areas while designed for anti-guerrilla action within Greece are in fact such as would facilitate operations across the frontier.

Crosthwaite intends to caution Pipinelis and Minister of War against any such action but has informed his government that in his view only way to insure Greek Government will do nothing rash would be for British and US to warn Greeks of grave consequences ensuing from any incursion into Albania. He suggests that warning might include statement that in certain circumstances US and UK might even be unable to continue their help to Greece in its present form.

I informed Crosthwaite that we have repeatedly cautioned Papagos, Tsaldaris and Pipinelis against military adventures in Albania and that Ambassador Grady and McGhee had recently given similar warnings to Dendramis in Washington.¹ Commander-in-Chief and Foreign Office have categorically assured us no invasion Albania intended but have indicated some isolated and minor GNA border crossings might take place for purely local tactical reasons and particularly in answer to fire from Albanian territory, harassing GNA movement on Greek side Albanian frontier. Minister War² informed me last night as matter of urgency of contents special GGS communiqué refuting Albanian charges reported by Agence France Presse that GNA troops had violated Albanian territory August 2 in Bozigrad region. Greek communiqué, contrary, states from August 2–4 Greek forces on Greek territory subject to artillery machine gun and anti-aircraft fire from Albanian territory and lost 10 killed and 14 wounded as result. (Details this communiqué being reported by Military Attaché.) Minister War inquired pointedly how Greeks could be expected to tolerate continued action this sort. Also yesterday Kosmas, Chief GGS,³ asked our Military Attaché what would reaction be if GNA Division were required enter Albania in order effectively prosecute operations against guerrillas.

In my opinion we cannot expect Greeks scrupulously and invariably respect border markings in heat of battle but we must insist Greeks undertake no outright military adventures into Albania. In view importance of question and Diomedes’ attitude as reported by British Chargé, Department may consider it advisable again to make our position this matter unmistakably clear both here and to Dendramis in Washington.⁴

Sent Department 1552; repeated London 64, Belgrade 66.

Minor

1. Regarding the conversation under reference here, see Cromie’s memorandum of conversation, July 27, p. 373.
2. Panayotis Kanellopoulos.
3. Lt. Gen. Georgios Kosmas, Chief of the Greek Army General Staff.
4. In his telegram 1567, August 8, from Athens, not printed, Chargé Minor reported that in conversation with Pipinelis that day he had made clear beyond any question the opposition of the United States to any rash or deliberate Greek military action on Albanian soil. Pipinelis replied that the Greek Government was in entire accord and had no intention of taking such actions, but he did point out that he could not guarantee that there would be no minor incidents. Pipinelis further explained that Greek public opinion was becoming highly inflamed over the Albanian issue and that there must be some assurance to the Greeks that Albania would not serve for a third time as a base for a guerrilla invasion of the Grammos. (868.00/8–849)