868.00/5–1047: Telegram
The Ambassador in Greece (MacVeagh) to the Secretary of State
672. Mytel 654, May 7. Following is Greek Govt’s aide-mémoire dated May 10 in reply to mine of May 7:
“The Political Council is studying with due attention the contents of the United States Ambassador’s communication referring to the amnesty. The granting of amnesty to the surrendering rebels has been the policy pursued three last months by the present and previous governments, and has already had as a result the surrender of hundreds of rebels to the authorities, which put them under their full protection.
“It is natural, that in view of the granting of a more liberal amnesty, which presents many internal and external aspects, this subject be studied from all sides and with the utmost attention.
“Before reaching a decision on this matter, the Hellenic Government requests certain clarifications on concrete points of the American suggestion, which have a decisive bearing on the various aspects of the subject.
- “(a) According to the American communication, the unilateral declaration of the Greek Govt regarding amnesty is supposed to remove the eventuality of a recommendation to this effect in the final report of the Investigation Committee to the Security Council. However, since such a declaration on the part of the Greek Govt would be noted in the report of the Committee, there is no doubt that the Security Council would give it equal consideration with all the other recommendations and therefore nothing would be gained.
- “(b) The Greek Govt-does not clearly discern in the American communication whether a declaration of intention regarding the granting of a more liberal amnesty is understood to mean an amnesty having as a prerequisite a general laying down of arms on the part of the rebels, or whether it means more liberal application of amnesty which has already twice been granted to all but civil criminals willing to lay down their arms.
- “The Royal Govt wishes to have it made clear whether, regarding the application of the amnesty, it is suggested that foreign observers be invited to be present in Greece during the continuation of the bandit movement or only after its termination. It is obvious that the psychological repercussion of their presence would be quite different in each case, and that in the former the ability of the Greek state to bring the revolt to an end would be greatly enfeebled.
- “The Greek Govt wonders whether, in the spirit of the American démarche, the announcement of intention to grant a more liberal amnesty, would if not followed by a general deposition of weapons on the part of the rebels mean the granting of all aid for the immediate dynamic suppression of the guerrilla movement.
- “(c) The Greek Govt sees, neither in the démarche of Mr. MacVeagh, nor in the Ethridge plan, submitted to the Investigation Committee, those concrete assurances, to which Greece feels she is entitled, against the continuation of the fostering of the guerrilla movement from abroad.
“It wonders, how it would be possible to proceed to the announcement of an act so important in political consequences, without having beforehand the certainty that concrete and substantial measures are envisaged in the Investigation Committee’s report for the termination of alien aid.”
Sent Dept as No. 672, repeated Geneva for Ethridge.
For comment see my next following telegram.