501.BB/11–149: Telegram
The Ambassador in Greece (Grady) to the Secretary of State
priority
2206. Deptel 1862, October 30.1 I am somewhat concerned over GADel views re draft resolution on Greece. I seriously question that resolution could be called “wholly one-sided” if specific reference to leniency were omitted as was done in amended version submitted to Political Committee. We should not permit revival of discredited theory that Greek Communist rebellion reflected political and economic dissatisfaction of large number of Greeks and was not solely Communist bid for power. As Department knows, facts are clear and to the contrary: Soviet-sponsored minority tried twice to add Greece to list of Balkan “popular democracies” and failed. Despite Greek Government’s adherence to Varkiza agreement and despite broad amnesties offered by Sophoulis, Greek Communist Party preferred recourse to sword. Communists had to be beaten finally by their own weapon and although innocents through forced recruitment were dragged along bloody trail, I see no reason why, in mistaken confusion over these unfortunates, real leaders should go unpunished. Greek Government is trying to attain lasting peace by refusing to pardon leading rebels while still reclaiming as many of their followers as possible through recent leniency law.
I have personally taken every opportunity to convey Department’s views on leniency to Greeks, who have not turned deaf ear. However, since this matter has assumed unwarranted proportions in GA, our chance of helping Greek Government to solve ticklish problem through its own efforts have materially lessened. Judging from press [Page 451] comment over Soviet attacks against Greece in UN and what many Greeks believe to be our own complacent attitude there, local backs are up and there may result a stiffening rather than a relaxing of Greek attitude on executions.
I am, of course, not in a position to evaluate properly state of mind of GA or to understand fully the pressures which may be put on our delegation there. But I do feel we are deluding ourselves if we believe that originally draft resolution contains “no conceivable reference to Greek internal affairs.” In any case this is not feeling of Greeks who have been following debate avidly and with disapproval. Any reference whatsoever to such a troublesome problem as leniency to Communists by outsiders who have never been objects of their aggression is in Greek minds a reference to internal affairs.
In enacting leniency law, Greek Government has already shown sincere desire to return as many rebels as possible to full participation in Greek life and I do not believe that GA resolution contemplated would induce any more to surrender than have so far done so. We must not forget that rebels to whom we are appealing are dominated by fanatic leaders and quartered and fed in satellite countries. They are only pawn in Russia’s Balkan strategy and not individuals free to direct their own destiny.
I firmly believe that net result of persisting in course proposed by USDel will be to give further ammunition to Soviets. I therefore hope we will do everything we can to discourage reintroduction of original disputed paragraphs of resolution. At same time I hope US delegation will seize every opportunity to emphasize points of fact made in my first paragraph and to stress real effort Greek Government is making to make good Greeks out of former bandits.
- In his telegram 2181, October 27, from Athens, not printed, Ambassador Grady reported that Prime Minister Diomedes had called on him the previous evening and stated that he had received a cable from the Greek Delegation at the United Nations advising that the United States Delegation was preparing a draft resolution for submission to the General Assembly calling for the complete amnesty for all guerrillas and political prisoners. Diomedes was deeply disturbed and felt that such a resolution would neutralize completely the recent Greek Army military victory over the guerrillas. A strong fifth column would arise in Greece aimed at overthrowing the current regime, and the Soviet Union would finally accomplish what it had previously failed to accomplish. Diomedes further predicted that his government would fall, and King Paul would be obliged to name a Communist fellow-traveler to form a new government (501.BB/10–2749). Telegram 1862, October 29, to Athens, not printed, explained that Greek anxieties arose as a result of a confusion of various drafts of a resolution under discussion in New York among the United States, British, French, and Australian Delegations to the U.N. No general amnesty proposal was being considered. It was the view of the United States Delegation, however, that some reference to the desirability of Greek clemency measures would be necessary to avoid passage of a resolution likely to be criticized for being wholly one-sided (501.BB/10–2749). Regarding the resolution under discussion, ultimately passed by the First Committee of the General Assembly on November 4, see the editorial note, infra.↩