740.0011 European War 1939/7244: Telegram
The Minister in Greece (MacVeagh) to the Secretary of State
[Received December 22—4:15 a.m.]
374. With reference to telegram No. 598, December 19, 1 p.m. from Belgrade, Albanian suspicions of Greek intentions would appear unjustified in view of a statement made by Mr. Metaxas over the radio after the fall of Koritza on November 23, “We are fighting not only for our existence but for the other Balkan peoples too, and for the liberation of Albania”. The Director General of the Foreign Office with whom I have had several conversations, as also with the Under Secretary for Foreign Affairs and other officials on this subject, expressed the opinion to me this morning that Italian propaganda may be at work in this connection. Greek aims, he said, are clear so far as they go. On the other hand he professed to regard Albanian aid to either side in the present conflict as relatively unimportant.
What will be done if and when Albania is liberated is another question which the Greeks appear to feel had better be taken up when the time arrives. In addition they are quite aware that its solution will not depend upon them alone. They undoubtedly hope to regain southern Albania where the Greek population predominates but are indifferent as to the fate of the rest of the country. Meanwhile, according to the Director General, to set up a provisional Albanian government in the rear of the Greek Army is impractical on account of the necessities of the military situation and because of the existence of factional dissensions among the Albanians themselves.