868.01/12–2947: Telegram
The Chargé in the United Kingdom (Gallman) to the Secretary of State
us urgent
6646. Wallinger, head Southern Department Foreign Office, informed us late this afternoon, after interested Foreign Office officials had been giving further consideration to Greek situation (Embtel 6638 December 291), that Foreign Office will take following steps which British Embassy Washington will be instructed at once to discuss fully with Department:
- 1.
- Instruct British Ambassador Belgrade to support Ambassador Cannon’s démarche to Yugoslav Government (Deptel 5370 December 272) emphasizing what to British is basic point that by no stretch of international law can Markos group be considered to have the rights of even a belligerent and therefore has not status of government.
- 2.
- Instruct Britain Sofia [sic] to make similar démarche to Bulgarian Government subject to Department’s concurrence.
- 3.
- Instruct British Ambassador Athens to urge Greek Government not to suppress indiscriminately other parties than Communist but [Page 476] to endeavor to drive wedge between leftist splinter groups and Communists and if possible get leaders of splinter groups to make statements condemning Markos group; and to urge Greek Government not to use terms “free”, “Greek” or “Government” in connection with Markos group, but to refer to latter as Markos junta or headquarters describing it as “Communist” or “rebel”.
Wallinger, referring to possible developments if endeavor to keep satellite governments from recognizing Markos group fails, described application of relevant provisions of UN charter to possible resultant situation as “tricky” but expressed view that he thought Greek Government could ask US or UK to send troops to Greece to assist it in resisting aggression, which troops could be posted in Greece against eventuality of outside aggression.
Wallinger said he had thought that recognition of Markos group might take place in stages with Albania and Bulgaria according recognition first. He indicated, however, that he now thought Yugoslavia intended to recognize Markos group although Albania, which is still technically at war with Greece, might be the first to accord recognition as a test.
Sent Department 6646; Athens 155; Belgrade 39; Sofia 58; Moscow 369.