868.20/8–147
Memorandum by the Deputy Director of the Office of Near Eastern Affairs (Villard) to the Assistant Secretary of State for Political Affairs (Armour)
I believe the attached Top Secret telegram from our Military Attaché in Athens1 will be of interest to you in connection with our concern as to the present size of the Greek Army. It will be observed that in the opinion of the Military Attaché the Greek Army under present conditions is incapable of coping with any sizable increase in the guerrilla forces, and that the Greeks do not have adequate means to take the necessary steps to remedy the situation. Moreover, a serious factor of morale must be taken into account, owing to inadequate pay and prolonged service in the ranks.
We have not yet received a reply from Governor Griswold in regard to his decision to limit the size of the Greek Army, but when the answer does come in I think we should also take the Military Attaché’s comments into consideration.
- No. Mid 233, July 25, not printed.↩