868.00/12–1244: Telegram
The Ambassador in Greece (MacVeagh) to the Secretary of State
[Received December 14—10:34 a.m.]
144. My 138, December 10, 11 a.m.47 While I understand from a good source that the British intend bringing in shortly two more divisions, this must take some days and meanwhile the ELAS appears determined to push all the advantages it now possesses to obtain a decision. General Scobie told our Treasury representatives this morning when he received them for the first time that the ELAS are deliberately exhausting the city water supply and “will stick at nothing”. It has now secured some light artillery as well as trench mortars and the center of town is under frequent fire from these. An American corporal brought in from Italy by General Scobie’s British political adviser as his chauffeur was wounded by a fragment this morning.
The relief problem continues extremely difficult. Already friends are beseeching this Embassy for food. The International Red Cross has been able to secure a signed agreement from the EVAL [ELAS?] to respect its cars but under conditions of street fighting mistakes only too frequently occur. ML and UNRRA are both sending back to Cairo portions of their staffs here which for the time being cannot be employed.
The visit of Field Marshal Alexander and Macmillan (my 140, December 11, 3 p.m.) seems likely to result in reinforcement to Mr. Leeper’s program for a political change to quiet the situation and I am reliably advised that especially in connection with the safety of the city during the next few critical days General Scobie as well as the British Embassy is counting heavily on London’s being persuaded to let the Archbishop assume the Regency.
- Not printed.↩