868.51 War Credits/447: Telegram
The Minister in Greece (Skinner) to the Secretary of State
[Received March 2—3: 53 p.m.]
5. Department’s 5, March 1, noon.2 Foreign Minister proposed a loan from Government to Government. It was my personal suggestion that if a direct government loan were impracticable we might use our influence in financial circles to obtain a commercial loan for Greece provided Greece settled existing debt. I strongly recommend prompt counterproposal of some kind and hope way may be found whereby funds for urgent refugee settlement work can be provided. Efforts to obtain funds in London were thus far unavailing, London being determined apparently to refuse additional refugee loan until Greece consents to settlement for war materials as well as credits, total claim being in excess of amount this country feels able to pay or morally obligated to pay. If we could relieve present situation by government or commercial loan, repayment would be guaranteed as Foreign Minister has proposed, and our action would be justified both on humanitarian and economic grounds.
- Not printed.↩