868.00/6–2945
Minutes of Meeting of the Secretary’s Staff Committee
Minutes Secretary’s Staff Committee Friday Morning, June 29, 1945 in the Secretary’s Office
[Here follows a lengthy list of participants; and discussion of certain items of business.]
United States Participation in Supervision of Greek Elections
The Committee discussed a proposal that this Government participate with the British Government in supervising fair and free elections [Page 129] in Greece. Such supervision was contemplated in the Yalta Declaration on liberated Europe in which the United States, Great Britain, and the Soviet Union undertook jointly to assist liberated states and to facilitate the holding of free elections. Furthermore, when the present Greek Government was established the Varkiza Agreement between EAM and the Government provided for Allied supervision of Greek elections.
The matter has been raised at the present time by the British Government. The British have consulted the Russians regarding the matter and have received the reply that for the Allies to supervise the Greek Elections would be interference in Greek domestic affairs. The British consider it is necessary to exercise the supervision nevertheless and wish the American Government to join them. Mr. Henderson,68 who presented the matter to the Committee, said it was proposed to reply to the British recommending that the British and American Ambassadors in Athens suggest to the Greek Government that the United States, Great Britain, and the Soviet Union be invited to supervise the elections. The matter could then be discussed at the forthcoming meeting of the three Chiefs of State.
Mr. MacLeish69 pointed out that under the Yalta Declaration the United States had a responsibility toward the people of the liberated areas to see that fair and free elections took place. He said this obligation had been widely publicized and that we should not take any action which would weaken it. Specifically, he thought we should not establish a precedent whereby assistance in holding elections would be given only after such assistance had been invited by the country concerned. Mr. Matthews70 and Mr. Henderson said they did not believe that present proposal would preclude Allied assistance to Greece in the event the suggestion that the Greeks invite such assistance should not be accepted. Mr. Acheson71 suggested that such possibility could be avoided if the United States and British Governments instead of suggesting that the Greek Government invite our assistance should call the Greek Government’s attention to the provisions of the Varkiza Agreement providing for Allied supervision and inform the Greek Government that we are prepared to furnish the necessary supervision. The Committee agreed with this proposed approach and Mr. Henderson undertook to redraft the proposed aide-mémoire to the British Embassy accordingly. Mr. Henderson said that the Soviet Union could be informed of this proposed action at the forthcoming meeting of the three Chiefs of State.
The Committee agreed that a proposed memorandum to the President to inform him of the proposed action and asking his approval for [Page 130] requesting the War Department to provide about 500 supervisory personnel should be redrafted to include an introductory paragraph pointing out the great importance of the proposed action as a part of our general policy.
[Here follows discussion of other subjects.]