501.BC Greece/2–747: Telegram

The Secretary of State to the Embassy in Greece

secret
u.s. urgent
niact

146. 1. We have just been informed that Dendramis has already filed a communication with the Sec Gen UN in accordance with the instructions from his Foreign Minister. (Urtel 169, Feb 7 and previous.) We feel the Greek Govt would make a grievous tactical error if it continued to adhere to what seems to be its present attitude. It seems to us that it is playing into the hands of the Russians and unless it alters its position the eyes of the whole world will become focused upon the execution of political prisoners in Greece rather than upon the issue of border violations.

2. We are suggesting to our representative in the Security Council that our position with regard to the inquiry of the Investigation Commission should be that the terms of reference of that Commission do [Page 819] not empower it to interfere in the execution of nationals by any of the governments concerned unless the Commission has reason to believe that such prisoners may be useful in connection with its investigation for interrogational purposes and so states in making any request for stay of execution.

3. It is suggested that you immediately approach the appropriate Greek authorities and inform them in confidence of the foregoing, pointing out at the same time that Ethridge and the informal approaches which had been made on his behalf to the Greek Govt were motivated solely by his desire to prevent the execution of the condemned from becoming a false issue. Make clear to them that at no time has Ethridge failed to understand the limitations of the terms of reference of the Commission. You should also make the following urgent suggestions:

a.
That Dendramis be instructed immediately to inform the Security Council that his Govt desired him to make it clear that the protest was filed merely in order that there could be no grounds for misunderstanding regarding the interpretation of the terms of reference; that in spite of the position taken by his Govt as set forth in the protest, his Govt in order to show its desire to cooperate with the Commission and to facilitate the Commission’s work has decided to postpone the execution of all persons who have been condemned to death or who may be so condemned in connection with guerrilla activities until the Commission has completed its investigations.

4. In urging the Greek authorities to adopt our suggestion please point out that it is made because of our earnest desire to prevent the diversion of world attention from the primary purposes of the investigation and to prevent the focusing of attention on the manner in which Greece is meeting its internal problems. You should state that the protest as lodged, unsupplemented by a statement of the kind suggested, will be sure to give the impression in many circles even in the US that the Greek Govt is not showing the kind of cooperation to the Investigating Commission which might be expected of a democratic govt with nothing to hide. You should add that we feel that the adoption of our suggestion would strengthen us in our efforts within the framework of the UN to preserve the territorial integrity and the political independence of Greece.

5. This is extremely urgent since the Security Council will meet Monday, Feb 10, at 11 a. m. and Dendramis should have his statement prepared before that time. It would be helpful if we could present his statement in writing before the Council meets.

6. We are informing the Greek Embassy in Washington this afternoon the substance of this telegram and requesting that it be brought to the attention also of Dendramis.

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7. Please show this to Ethridge and at earliest opportunity inform British Ambassador.1

Sent Athens as 146; rptd N.Y. as 42.

Marshall
  1. Ambassador MacVeagh reported in telegram 181, February 9, that Messrs. Maximos and Tsaldaris had promised him to telegraph to Ambassador Dendramis in conformity as far as possible with the Department’s advice. The Prime Minister, however, took a strong position against any unilateral action by Greece (regarding the suggestion in paragraph 3 of the Department’s telegram) stating that the Greek Government would accept the proposal providing that “the other three governments” also accepted it (501.BC Greece/2–947).