868.00/12–844: Telegram
The Ambassador in Greece (MacVeagh) to the Secretary of State
[Received December 10—8:37 a.m.]
132. I am convinced and my British colleague agrees with me that the greatest danger for the future in present deplorable Greek situation lies in the deep-seated mutual suspicions of groups in conflict. Many thousands of patriotic Greeks now siding with the extreme Left are undoubtedly doing so because they suspect that behind the Government’s actions lies an intention to bring back the King and possibly also the hated Fascist dictatorship for which they hold him personally responsible while many thousands of others equally patriotic are convinced that behind activities of the guerrillas lies a plot to establish a Communist dictatorship. These conflicting suspicions sedulously exploited by enemy agents and subversive propaganda are probably too profound and too firmly sealed by the blood which has now been shed to be cured by any purely Greek initiative. But I believe the danger of continued civil war here of indefinite duration and detriment to the peace of this whole region and the interests of the United Nations might still be avoided if after restoration of order in Athens the British were able and willing to announce formation of an international commission composed of British, Russian and American representatives to oversee the holding of a plebiscite on the regime and guarantee impartial settlement of other critical problems likely to cause trouble. This would give both sides equal assurance of fair play and also restore confidence in British intentions which is now so sadly if unjustly lacking throughout the Greek world.
I do not know whether you will find this suggestion practicable but my British colleague tells me that “similar ideas have passed through his mind” which he is communicating to his Government and in any case I feel certain that the present drastic foreign support feeing given to one side of local Greek quarrel in which so much genuine patriotic fervor and even fanaticism is enlisted in the other contains little if any hope of furnishing a durable solution unless it can be followed by some such clear proof of genuine impartial interest in the Greek people as a whole.
I am writing the President fully about this matter today.44
- Letter not printed.↩