Editorial Note
A cablegram of July 14 from United Nations Secretary-General Trygve H. Lie to certain member states of the United Nations, including Greece, requested assistance, including combat forces, for the Unified Command in Korea (United Nations document S/1619). In reply Greece offered on July 14 “to place at the disposal of the Unified Command six [subsequently the offer was increased to eight] transport ‘Dakota’ aircraft of the Royal Hellenic Airforce, with their crews” (United Nations documents S/1612 and S/1854). In addition, a cablegram of September 1 from Prime Minister Sophocles Venizelos to Secretary-General Lie informed him that the Greek Government had decided to send a unit of combat forces to Korea, leaving the details of executing this decision to be settled by a joint agreement with the Command of the United Nations forces (United Nations document S/1755). Regarding the implementation of the Greek offer of armed forces for duty in Korea, Note No. 97 of September 27 from the United States Embassy in Greece to the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated the Embassy’s “understanding that the Greek Government’s offer of armed forces is not made to the Government of the United States but to the United Nations” and the Embassy “emphasized that the United States Government has no authority or obligation to furnish supplies and services in support of the offer of the Greek Government … except on a reimbursable basis” (Athens Embassy Files, Lot 58F7, 321 Korea, 1950). In reply, Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs Note Verbale No. 48272 of October 6 to the Embassy in Greece expressed the Greek Government’s agreement that the United States Government had “neither the authority nor the obligation to assist the Greek Government … in carrying out this offer … except on the condition of being reimbursed” (ibid.). Ambassador Peurifoy’s Note No. 148 of November 14 to Prime Minister Venizelos specified that the United States agreed “to furnish the [Page 436] Greek Government supplies, equipment, transportation and services required for the maintenance of the revised Greek Expeditionary Force [one battalion of approximately 1,000 men] for Korea from date of departure from Greece and return thereto.” According to Ambassador Peurifoy’s note, it was also “understood that the Greek Government shall reimburse the United States Government for all expenses incurred in connection with this operation, and that such reimbursement will be the subject of a negotiated settlement at some future time in a manner to be determined at that time, but in no event later than June 30, 1952, unless otherwise provided.” (Athens Embassy Files, Lot 58F7, 321 Korea, 1950) The Greek reply, Note No. 31975 of May 2, 1951, from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, on the agreement regarding maintenance of Greek armed forces in Korea, was not found in Department of State files (enclosure 2 to despatch 1725, May 3, 1951, from Athens, 795B.5/5–351). Greece contributed initially an infantry battalion of 873 men. Approximately 200 replacements arrived in Pusan on May 7, 1951. In addition, the Greek contribution included seven Royal Hellenic Air Force C–47 transport aircraft (Dakotas), with 69 men (memorandum, May 23, 1951, by David W. Wainhouse, Director, Office of United Nations Political and Security Affairs, to John D. Hickerson, Assistant Secretary of State for United Nations Affairs, 795b.5/5–2351). Documentation relating to Korea is presented in volume VII.