868.00/1–3147: Telegram

The Chargé in the United Kingdom (Gallman) to the Secretary of State

secret

684. Foreign Office today asked us to call and said following:

Yesterday British Cabinet gave full consideration to Greek situation. It was agreed in principle that Great Britain should lend further assistance to Greece and Foreign Office was authorized to consult with Treasury and Ministry Defence to work out details of British proposals re this situation.

These inter-ministerial discussions will be hurried along as fast as possible and may take only a week. The idea then is for the British proposal to be discussed with US Government. Next item on agenda will be interim assistance to Greece because financial assistance will end on March 31 and it is improbable that long-term proposals can be [Page 14] worked out until after Porter report is made. It is essential that interim assistance be rendered “in order to stop the rot”.

Foreign Office is telegraphing Embassy Washington on this subject.1

Gallman
  1. A marginal notation dated February 15 states that the British Embassy had heard nothing further from London.