868.00/5–3145: Telegram
The Acting Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Greece (MacVeagh)
437. From Sofia Barnes13 reports14 seeing May 12 issue Greek newspaper To Phos in hands Bulgarian MinFonAff on way to cabinet meeting with red printed headlines announcing 40 to 50 kilometer penetration of Bulgaria by Greek and Brit troops and that “Greek occupation of Bulgaria has begun”. Despite later official denial such false news, uncontrolled Greek expansionist temper contributes to misunderstanding between Brit and Greek on one hand and Russia and Balkan Slavs on other. In face of such Greek attitude Barnes finds no sympathetic reception for arguments justifying relief shipments Bulgaria to Greece.
Numerous current reports indicate that Greek claims for territorial revision, whether official or unofficial, strengthen alleged belief of Greece’s northern neighbors that Greece with Brit backing has aggressive intentions and offer pretext for threatened countermeasures. Dept feels Greek Govt under present circumstances might be well advised to attempt restraint of belligerent expansionist claims. Perhaps you can occasionally and informally indicate this view in appropriate quarters.
Sent to Athens. Repeated to Salonika and Sofia.