Office of the Historian

868.00/12–1144: Telegram

The Secretary of State to the Appointed Ambassador to Italy (Kirk)

Washington, December 13, 1944—8 p.m.

471. Reurtel 1695, December 11, noon.34 The Department’s information on the rapidly changing situation in Greece is incomplete and we should not wish to take any position at this distance which would put any lives in jeopardy. However, it is the Department’s view that our military participation in ML is for the purpose of helping to bring relief to a gallant Ally and to ensure distribution of relief supplies, largely of American origin, to the Greek people without discrimination. American withdrawal from relief operation might well be interpreted as use of relief as instrument of political pressure. We therefore believe that during present period of Greek-British conflict US officers should continue on combined basis where combined relief operations are possible, and that if authorized by SACMED35 they should independently do everything possible in areas presently closed to British personnel to carry out objective of relief program, in cooperation with Swedish-Swiss Commission, appropriate UNRRA personnel and Greek organizations.

It should be kept in mind that General Sadler is operating under orders of the Theater Commander and that no unilateral action can be taken by American officers without consent of the latter or instructions through appropriate military channels. Any questions you may have concerning the policies being pursued by ML Greece should be reported to the Department which can then act in consultation with military authorities in Washington.

Sent to AmPolAd, Caserta, repeated to Athens.

Stettinius
  1. Not printed; in it Ambassador Kirk asked the Department for guidance on the Question of the position of American forces engaged in relief and rehabilitation activities in Greece, in view of the fighting there between Greek partisans and British forces (868.00/12–1144). For correspondence concerning interest of the United States in the political situation in Greece, see pp. 84 ff.↩
  2. Supreme Allied Commander, Mediterranean Theater.↩