I now enclose in translation the note from the Foreign Office in
answer to the note forwarded by the Chargé d’Affaires relative to
this question. While at the first reading, it might appear that
activity in this matter had not died down, I am of the opinion that
in reality this note is intended to serve no other purpose than a
general reservation of its position by the Greek Government. It
seems quite definite that the proposed law has been abandoned, at
least for the present. Subsequent to the despatch from this office,
to which reference is made above, the Prime Minister told the
British Chargé d’Affaires that the proposed law had been abandoned
on account of the opposition of the governments whose national
interests were involved. I have not disclosed to the local manager
of the Socony-Vacuum Company the contents of the Foreign Office’s
reply, believing that the Department should have the opportunity to
inform the head office of the company if it desires to do so.
[Enclosure—Translation]
The Greek Minister for Foreign Affairs
(Maximos) to the
American Chargé (Morris)
No. 34133
Athens, September 16,
1933.
Mr. Chargé d’affaires: In answer to
letter No. 204/33 which you were good enough to address to me on
last August the 17th, I have the
[Page 552]
honor to bring to your knowledge that the
competent Ministry communicates the following on the subject of
the plan to institute a petroleum monopoly in the New
Provinces.
The competent services have indeed studied and prepared for a
long time a proposed law instituting the petroleum monopoly in
the New Provinces, but no decision has yet been taken on the
subject of submitting it to the Chamber.
Relative to the prejudice which is foreseen for the Socony-Vacuum
Corporation, the competent Ministry is of the opinion that,
being free of any contractual obligation towards this company
and not a party to any engagement taken by the latter towards
third parties, of which the Ministry does not even possess any
knowledge, it reserves entire liberty to act towards the
institution of this monopoly such as it exists in Old Greece, if
the interests of the Hellenic Treasury should require such
action.
Beyond these considerations, the competent Ministry is further of
the opinion that none of the damage foreseen will result by this
action for the Socony-Vacuum Corporation. Nothing indeed would
prevent the above mentioned company from continuing to furnish
in the future, by adjudication, the petroleum necessary to the
monopoly and there is no reason why its installations at
Saloniki, which serve not only for the storage of petroleum but
also and especially for the storing of benzene, mazut, mineral
oil, etc., should be rendered useless. Furthermore, this company
possesses similar installations at the Piraeus where the
monopoly of petroleum has always been in effect.
In any case, even if the institution of the monopoly had been
definitely decided upon, which it has been made clear is not at
all the case, the competent Ministry would not see any objection
to undertake in a spirit of free initiative the necessary
measures, in order that justified complaint of the interested
companies should be avoided as much as possible.
I seize this occasion [etc.]
