868.00/5–1047: Telegram
The Ambassador in Greece (MacVeagh) to the Secretary of State
671. Substance Department’s telegram 603, May 7 communicated to Greek Government in note to Foreign Minister.
Meanwhile Military Attaché learns that on May 2 National Defense Council unanimously approved plans providing for army call-up June 19 of 20,000 men who after nine weeks training would be assigned to units simultaneously with release same number veterans. Same process to be repeated by further call-up September 1 of 20,000 additional new men. Thus overall Army strength would be temporarily increased by 20,000 for five-month period mid-June to mid-November. In addition plans envisage call-up soon as possible of 10,000 men to supplement existing 80 battalions and increase total number to 90 thus increasing permanent army strength to 130,000. These plans subject to approval United States and Greek Governments and availability of supplies and equipment.
British military mission estimates that additional monthly cost of maintaining 20,000 troops under training would be 3,480 million drachmas in local expenditures and 150 thousand pounds sterling in foreign exchange.
As for drachma cost of 6,000 additional gendarmes British police mission agrees with Patterson that Greek Government estimate of over 4 billion drachmas monthly communicated my telegram 651, May 71 is “conservative”. British military mission estimate of additional monthly foreign exchange cost without imported rations is 35 thousand pounds sterling.
Final development this connection is reply by Foreign Minister Tsaldaris of May 6 to British Embassy note of May 3 “deprecating” any increase in army or gendarmerie without prior United States approval [Page 167] (my telegram 620, May 3). Reply points out participation of British service mission chiefs in above mentioned decisions which also provide for United States Government approval prior to their implementation. Reply continues, “It is obvious Greek Government is unable perform elementary duty of maintaining public order without substantial increase in ceiling of gendarmerie” and adds “Greek Government has never failed act in concert with British and United States Governments but feels bound draw attention of two allied governments to dangers threatening development of internal situation in case adequate steps are not taken very promptly.”
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