868.00/10–2447
Draft Letter From the Acting Secretary of State to the Secretary of Defense (Forrestal)1
My Dear Mr. Secretary: Now that the General Assembly has completed its plenary action on the Greek border question, and General Chamberlin’s telegraphic recommendations concerning his recent survey of Greece are at hand, we believe that it is highly desirable for us to take a prompt decision as to whether the United States give operational advice to the Greek armed forces. This was initially proposed by our representatives in Athens on September 15th following the request of the Greek Prime Minister, and was also recommended in General Chamberlin’s telegram of October 8th.
This Department feels that the United States should offer the requested operational advice to the Greek armed forces without further delay. Such action need not, in our view, prejudice any following [Page 378] decision in respect of broader responsibility which we may wish later to assume in Greece.
The Department also agrees with the original proposals made by our representatives in Athens, and confirmed by General Chamberlin, as to the assignment of additional officers to provide a planning staff and to serve as tactical observers down to the division level of the Greek army. It further believes that operational advice and the additional personnel entailed should be under the responsibility of the Chief of the present United States Army Group. The Department is prepared to supplement Governor Griswold’s instructions to assure that his principal military and naval subordinates may be free to make purely military decisions, and to assure thorough coordination of all American activities in Greece.
If you believe it appropriate, I should like to discuss this subject at the next meeting of the National Security Council. In view of our current reports as to the deteriorating security situation in Greece, I trust that we can then take positive action on this matter. Thereafter the Department is prepared to advise the appropriate Congressional leaders concerning this extension of our military activities in Greece which, while not in conflict with the stipulations of Public Law 75, does go beyond that described in our testimony at the hearings thereon.
Sincerely yours,
- An attached note states that this paper was to be brought tip on Monday, the 27th, at a meeting of the National Security Council.↩