740.0011 European War 1939/8660: Telegram

The Minister in Greece (MacVeagh) to the Secretary of State

102. The Prime Minister told me this morning that he is “more than sure” that German military occupation of Bulgaria will involve an attack on Greece. He said that the Axis is finding the Albanian situation a “cancer” which cannot be cured by the Italians alone and while no formal German demands have yet been made on this country there have been plenty of indications that such may be expected to which Greece will react exactly as she did to the Italian ultimatum. She will resist alone if necessary but he feels sure the British will send help and that Greek resistance will give them the time to do so. Furthermore, he believes that Turkey’s obligations to Great Britain will bring her into the war under these circumstances and added that news from Yugoslavia during the last few days has been definitely encouraging.

MacVeagh