Foreign Relations of the United States, 1952–1954, Eastern Europe; Soviet Union; Eastern Mediterranean, Volume VIII

611.81/3–1854

No. 457
Memorandum of Conversation, by the Chief of Protocol (Simmons)

confidential

[Washington,] March 18, 1954.

Subject:

• Call on the President of the Minister of Defense of Greece

Participants:

• The President
• The Minister of Defense of Greece
• The Ambassador of Greece
• John F. Simmons, Chief of Protocol

His Excellency Panyiotis Kanellopoulos, Minister of Defense of Greece, called on the President, by appointment, at 3 p.m. today.

Certain portions of the conversation held are of especial interest.

The Minister said that the recent tri-partite agreement between Greece, Turkey and Yugoslavia¹ was already operating favorably. He said that, of course, he had certain mental reservations about the complete sincerity of the Yugoslavs, but, after all, they had to be with us now. He said that they had acted loyally and sincerely and were definitely interested in building up the anti-Soviet defense system. He expressed, however, his embarrassment at the recent request of Marshal Tito to have Greece sign a military agreement with his country. This, he said, Greece was avoiding doing since such an agreement would affront Italy.

The President stressed the importance of a settlement of the Trieste dispute and the Minister expressed hearty agreement.

The Minister said how much Greece appreciates our military aid. He expressed, in some detail, the effective integration of American matériel into the Greek military defense system, mentioning that the Greek military and naval forces are rapidly being built up to high efficiency. The President said that a key to the success of all defensive systems is the building up of the army with adequate reserves. This will provide large military force in an emergency, with the minimum outlay of funds. The Minister described in detail the efficiency, mobility and future needs of the Greek Navy and mentioned that it must retain its national character. Greece could not afford, he said, to turn over to Mountbatten, as requested, a number of destroyers and other vessels which would have to have a preliminary expensive reconditioning.

The President mentioned his own conversation with the retiring Yugoslav Ambassador here last week, who had at that time expressed the confidence of Yugoslavia in the tri-partite agreement with Greece and Turkey.

1. For text of the Treaty of Friendship and Assistance between Yugoslavia, Greece, and Turkey, signed at Ankara, Feb. 28, 1953, see Documents (R.I.I.A.) for 1953, p. 271.