File No. 711.0012/467
The Chargé d’Affaires in Greece (Whitehouse) to the Secretary of State
Athens, August 20, 1914.
[Received August 21, 6:30 a.m.]
[Telegram]
Your August 17, 7 p.m.1 Greek Government willing to sign such a treaty with us provided it is clearly understood that there will be no attempt to make these treaties general, as it could not consent to a similar treaty with any other power. Will take the matter up with the Minister as soon as copy of the Netherlands form for which I have telegraphed Embassy at Rome reaches me, copies sent by Department to the Greek Government never having arrived.
[Page 69]Greek Government also anxious to be kept informed of any regulations made by our Government concerning neutral commerce, merchant vessels of belligerents etc., so that it may conform its attitude as closely as possible to ours.
Minister again assured me that Greece would remain neutral unless Turkey or Bulgaria moved and that having had formal assurances from them he hoped for the best. Public opinion on the contrary is bellicose and regards eventual action by Greece as both necessary and certain.