740.0011 European War 1939/2640: Telegram
The Minister in Greece ( MacVeagh ) to the Secretary of State
[Received May 3—4:06 p.m.]
76. The Director General of the Foreign Office3 this morning expressed belief in Italy’s intention to maintain a non-belligerent attitude, basing this belief on the logic of her situation and the assurances of the Italian Minister just returned from a “holiday” in Rome. Nevertheless, the Greek Government yesterday called up 10 classes of reserve officers of all arms, including medical services, about one-third to report May 15 and the others in July and August. The controlled press has denied that this move bears any relation to the international situation and the Director General described it as a routine measure, but the large numbers involved betray its essentially precautionary character and I am reliably informed that an additional decree is ready for signature which would call up seven classes of privates and noncommissioned officers. The dates given are, of course, subject to change, but as they stand would seem to indicate a present estimate of the situation similar to that of the Turkish Military Attaché reported in the Legation’s telegram No. 75, April 25, 6 p.m.4
Unconfirmed reports from Albania state that the Italian laborers recently shipped to that country have started work on a railway to link the coast with the Greek frontier.