868.20/10–2049: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Embassy in Greece
priority
1789. Re news release Grk guerrillas and reduction Grk armed forces at Secy’s press conference Oct 19, relayed you verbatim Wireless Bulletin.1 This does not mean any change in policy since reduction Grk forces always contemplated upon cessation guerrilla operations. You are authorized ur discretion issue statement to prevent any undue perturbation on part Grks. In answer to Grk Emb here we have called attn to Secy’s statement that reduction US assistance Greece “was a matter which wld have to be taken up with the Grk Govt, that it w;ld have to be seen what they proposed to do with their mil estab.” There is not contemplated any hasty or drastic unilateral action by US along these lines; although we intend press vigorously for implementation our present policy of having Grk Govt reduce 50,000 NDC troops by Jan 1, 1950, as orginally planned. Re ur Amag 75 Oct 152 Secy’s statement shld be helpful to you in persuading Grks they shld cut forces and will be used in talk this subject Grk Amb.
- Regarding the Greek guerrilla regime announcement of October 16 and the Secretary of State’s press conference statements of October 19, see the editorial note, p. 434. The “Wireless Bulletin” referred to here was an unclassified daily review of news and press comment, prepared by the International Press and Publications Division of the Department of State and transmitted overseas for the information of Foreign Service Officers.↩
- Not printed. In it Ambassador Grady reported that all American officials in Greece were agreed on the necessity for reducing the Greek Army by 50,000 men by January 1, 1950, and they were emphasizing the need for it to the Greeks. The message predicted that many Greeks in the press and higher military circles could be expected to oppose for the usual nationalistic reasons. (868.20/10–1549)↩