868.248/143
Memorandum by the Chief of the Division of Near Eastern Affairs (Murray) to the Under Secretary of State (Welles)
Mr. Welles: Supplementing my memorandum of this morning setting forth the latest developments in the matter of Grumman planes for Greece, I am pleased to be able to convey to you the following additional information:
Captain Ramsey, of the Bureau of Aeronautics, informs me that according to information he has received from the British Purchasing Commission the British have now receded from their position taken on Saturday that in return for their willingness to see the Grumman planes go to Greece we should undertake to ship a corresponding number of Tomahawk planes to Basra. The British now acknowledge that they have sufficient vessels ready to ship at least half of the Greek order at once, and that the remainder will go along on subsequent vessels shortly. This development would appear to remove the last hitch in this interminable problem of making available thirty new planes to the Greeks.
With regard to the question of the fifteen old planes also promised the Greeks, Captain Ramsey informs me that he had discussed the matter with the Greek Minister, who expressed to him the same views that he had conveyed to me—that if he could receive a letter from the Secretary of the Navy explaining that these old planes are now vitally needed for our own defense he was certain his Government would let the matter drop. Such a letter has already been drafted by Captain Ramsey and approved by Admiral Towers, and has gone to the Secretary of the Navy for signature.
While I was dictating this memorandum Captain Ramsey called to say that eight of the Grumman planes are being loaded today on a British vessel and are to sail tomorrow for Suez. Thus we appear to be well out of the woods in this matter.