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

841.2368/10–2049

Memorandum of Conversation, by Mr. Ben Franklin Dixon of the Office of Greek, Turkish, and Iranian Affairs

confidential

[Washington,] October 20, 1949.

Participants:	Mr. W. D. Allen, Counsellor of the British Embassy
	Mr. John D. Jernegan, NEA
	Mr. Ben F. Dixon, GTI

a) Problem: Formulation of United States Position with regard to withdrawal of British Garrison Troops from Greece.

b) Action Required: Consultation with Embassy Athens and Department of Army.

c) Action Assigned to: GTI

Mr. Allen said he had come to inform the Department of a telegram which was sent from the Foreign Office to their Ambassador in Athens concerning the reduction of the British garrison in Greece. He said that Sir Derick Hoyer-Millar had mentioned the matter briefly to Mr. McGhee on passing him in the corridor but that he, Mr. Allen, wanted to inform the Department more fully. He said that the matter had arisen in the course of the reexamination of the disposition of forces in connection with the problem of garrisoning in Hong Kong. Troops from the Middle East had been sent to Hong Kong and it was necessary to reenforce some of the reduced garrisons in the Middle East. The telegram was simply the first step being taken, that of consulting the British Ambassador in Athens.

Mr. Allen said the point of the matter at this time was the transfer of one of the Battalions of the British garrison, but that the Chiefs of Staff papers he had seen indicated that the ultimate intention was the transfer of the entire garrison from Greece, located at Salonika. The matter only concerned the British garrison, not their Mission. The British Ambassador, Mr. Norton, had been authorized to discuss the matter with the American Ambassador as well as the Chiefs of British Missions in Athens.

Mr. Jernegan asked if Mr. Allen desired the reaction of the Department to the telegram or if we were simply being informed. Mr. Allen said that he was informing the Department now and would ask for views later. He felt that the military situation in Greece was probably favorable to the reduction of the British forces.

Mr. Jernegan said that he was not surprised at this news; it was the logical time to consider the matter. He said that the kernel of the problem was the Greek reaction. The effect of the British troops being stationed in Greece was ninety-five per cent psychological. The original intention of their being there, of course, was to bolster the Greek morale by satisfying them that they had some protection against incursions by the northern neighbors or communist moves within the country against urban centers. In other words, could this withdrawal be accomplished without unduly disturbing the Greek morale. He said he felt that the opinion of our two Ambassadors in Athens as to what the Greek reaction would be would be extremely helpful.