868.01/197: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Chargé in Greece (Atherton)
13. You are instructed to deliver a formal communication to the Greek Minister of Foreign Affairs at noon, Tuesday, January 29, in which you will quote the following letter accrediting you as Chargé [Page 266] d’Affaires ad interim of the United States at Athens, from the Secretary of State to Minister Roussos.
“Department of State, Washington, January 29, 1924.
Excellency: I have the honor to inform you that Mr. Ray Atherton, a Secretary of Legation in the Diplomatic Service of the United States, has been ordered to assume the duties of Chargè d’Affaires ad interim of the United States at Athens. I accordingly hereby accredit Mr. Atherton in the foregoing capacity and ask that you will give credence to what he shall say on the part of the Government of the United States. My knowledge of Mr. Atherton’s qualifications encourages the hope that he will conduct the affairs of the Legation at Athens in a manner gratifying to the Government of Greece.
Accept, Excellency, the assurances of my most distinguished consideration. Signed Charles E. Hughes, Secretary of State of the United States of America. To His Excellency, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Greece.”
In presenting this communication to the Minister for Foreign Affairs you will request him to accept it as sufficient warrant for your recognition pending receipt of autographed credence which goes to you by first mail for delivery.
[Paraphrase.] The action which you are instructed to take will constitute formal recognition of the Greek Government by the United States. The American Government, in accrediting you to the Greek Minister for Foreign Affairs, wishes to avoid interfering in the decision of the constitutional issue at present under consideration in Greece and it is our intention to await the decision on this matter by Greece before accrediting a Minister to the head of the State. If the Greek Government wishes to grant letters of credence to the Greek representative in Washington the Secretary of State will be pleased to receive them. The recognition of the Greek Government will be made public in the morning papers of January 30. [End paraphrase.]