Editorial Note
Paul G. Hoffman, Administrator of the Economic Cooperation Administration, made an official visit to Greece from August 18 to August 21. Hoffman was accompanied by his wife and daughter and a small party of ECA officials. During his visit, Hoffman dined with the Greek King and Queen on the evening of August 18, attended a series of briefing sessions by officers in the EGA Mission to Greece on the morning of August 19, and held a press conference on that same afternoon, followed by a meeting with Fotios Makris, Secretary General of the General Confederation of Greek Labor. On August 20, accompanied by Ambassador Grady, Lieutenant General Van Fleet, Deputy Prime Minister Venizelos, and others, Hoffman made an air tour of northern Greece. On the evening of August 20, Hoffman, accompanied by Ambassador Grady and other American Embassy and EGA officials, took part in a conference with Prime Minister Diomedes and the principal Greek Cabinet ministers. The ten-page account of the Hoffman visit to Greece, transmitted in despatch 616, August 25, from Athens, not printed, concluded that the visit had been of paramount importance, and Hoffman’s meetings, comments, and addresses were reported upon in the Greek press in great detail (840.50 Recovery/8–2549).