868.24/114
Memorandum of Conversation, by Mr. George V. Allen of the Division of Near Eastern Affairs
| Participants: | Greek Minister |
| Mr. Murray | |
| Mr. Allen |
Referring to the memorandum which the Greek Minister left with Mr. Murray on December 23, 1940,89 inquiring “if in the Navy and Army warehouses are kept available shells for 75 mm. and 155 mm. guns”, Mr. Murray informed the Greek Minister that the Department had received word from an official of the Army and Navy Munitions Board that no shells of either type were available for sale by the American Army and Navy.
The Greek Minister said that he must of course accept this statement as an official reply to his inquiry and report it, with regret, to his Government. In an endeavor to clarify the situation, however, he said that two questions were involved: first, whether the American Government has in its possession shells of the type specified, and, second, if so, whether Greece would be able to purchase any of these shells. He said that his purpose in leaving the memorandum of December 23 was to find out first whether such shells existed, and that he had intended, after ascertaining that they did exist, to make an official request to purchase them.
Mr. Murray said that the statement he was now transmitting to the Greek Minister appeared to take care of both phases of the subject, since, regardless of whether the American Government has on hand shells of the type desired, the military authorities have stated that no such shells are available for sale by the Government.
- Dated December 23 but left with Mr. Murray on December 27; not printed.↩