868.014/12–546
The Ambassador in Greece (MacVeagh) to the Secretary of State
No. 3389
[Received December 31.]
Sir: [Here follows analysis by Ambassador MacVeagh of Greek territorial claims against Albania and Bulgaria.]
Summary and conclusion:
As I understand our Near Eastern policy, it includes supporting the independence and integrity of Greece and helping her reestablish her economy. It also includes similar support for Turkey, the purpose being the maintenance of a defensive line against Soviet advance on both sides of the Dardanelles. However, Slavic and Communist pressures, reaching down across Greece’s frontiers, are today menacing her territorial integrity and, more distantly, her independence, and are largely responsible for preventing the reestablishment of her normal economic life. Furthermore, these pressures have already achieved virtual control of the exit of the Adriatic, and are obviously equally aimed at issuance on the Northern Aegean. The full accomplishment of both of these aims would effectively deprive Greece of any value as a bastion of democracy and cut off Turkey from the West. But Greece’s frontier with Albania and Bulgaria, and to a certain extent with Yugoslavia also, are strategic liabilities rather than assets for the Western Powers. The first named cries aloud for adjustment, at least along the coast, if Italy and the central Mediterranean are to be spared the same threat which now hangs over the eastern portion of that sea, and the other two can perhaps only be maintained effectively [Page 276] by the presently problematic intervention and assistance of the United Nations. Therefore, to consider a fixation of these borders, which were adequate enough in 1939, as anything more than a momentary resource, or as likely to contribute anything but ever increasing trouble for our policy as above outlined, would seem, under present conditions, to be unwise in the extreme. To attempt to protect Western Democracy behind this line is to concede such immense advantages to the other side that it can only be hoped that when and if opportunities arise for altering it, even in the slightest, they may be immediately and strongly taken.
Respectfully yours,