501.BB Balkan/9–249: Telegram
The United States Representative on the United Nations Special Committee on the Balkans (Drew) to the Secretary of State
1758. Combal 481 from Drew. Reference Balcom 296 August 29, 1949.1 Please inform me soonest whether Department’s proposed recommendations have been communicated to French and UK Governments. If not I urge it be done forthwith. I have in mind possible presentation of agreed three-party working paper to committee and my British and French colleagues will want clearance from their respective governments before committing themselves. Also may I expect any additional instruction based on suggestions made in my Combal 476 of August 24?2 Must know before presenting formal proposals to committee to avoid any backing and filling.
Am constrained to confess that in general am disappointed in Department’s proposals. With exception of first suggestion re conciliation consultations at GA they are either repetition of recommendations in previous GA resolution or conclusion of committee in 1949 report. They completely skirt issues of return of guerrillas from Albania and [Page 396] isolation of that country as outlaw. I fully realize difficulty of coming up with any really workable recommendation to that effect and concede my own inability to supply answer. I do feel however that recommendation proposed by Department would represent something of new low in pious platitudes.
While I would be first to deplore empty dramatic gesture, could we not for example consider some such move as proposal to resubmit whole issue to SC for considerations during period of Assembly where failing unanimity on solution case could again be brought before Assembly? Could we suggest to Greece that it bring northern neighbors or at least Albania and Bulgaria before International Court to demand reparations for material damages caused by guerrilla war? Could we recommend that all UN members withdraw diplomatic representatives from Tirana? Might we authorize UNSCOB to extend [garble] function (read blockade) to Albania sea frontier utilizing vessels of members (US UK and Greece)? In line with suggestion advanced in Legation Sofia’s 583 of July 123 might committee recommend that GA determine that Albania and Bulgaria are engaging in conduct of undeclared war against Greece through use of foreign (Greek) mercenaries.
Extreme as these ideas may be, I feel committee must go much further than Department has suggested even if GA resolution eliminates part or all of our recommendations.
Australian representative has circulated working paper proposing recommendation that GA address appeal to Albania Bulgaria and Yugoslavia for return to Greece under aegis of UN of guerrillas who have sought refuge in their territory. Appeal would: 1. Call on all nations members or not to cooperate in return; 2. Take into account wishes of individual guerrillas; 3. Request Greek Government to cooperate and assign suitable “protected area” to UN or their reception under UN auspices; 4. Include guarantee of safe conduct to area and protection therein with provisions for resettlement in Greece under terms fixed by Greek authorities or outside Greece under conditions agreed by SYG and receiving country; 5. Be applicable to present guerrilla prisoners if requested by Greek Government; 6. Include Greek children in consultation with ICRC.
Atyeo’s paper probably drafted in or inspired by Canberra argues that guerrilla morale must be at low ebb and many would welcome chance to quit if guaranteed fair treatment; that scheme does not [Page 397] involve any negotiations with, guerrillas—only Albania, Bulgaria and Yugoslavia; and that it offers sheltering countries easy way out of embarrassing political and economic problem involved in protracted sheltering of guerrillas. Despite a possible conflict with Greek amnesty plans and need for ironing out certain unclear details I feel plan deserves careful study. If advanced by special committee as whole it should at least allay Greek suspicions of anything Australian. It offers fresh approach and with vigorous Australian support at GA should enlist sympathy of many liberally inclined delegations. It should appeal to Yugoslavs at least and might interest Bulgaria which of late has displayed increasing signs of being fed up with whole business. Albanian attitude while of course dictated from Moscow might even prove receptive.
Hope Department can give me earliest possible indication its preliminary reaction to preceding proposals. If negative on my ideas which I recognize have serious procedural and substantive objections I urge careful consideration of Australian proposal which may contain germ of recommendation which would at least lift UNSCOB proposals out of present doldrums.