868.00/4–1847: Telegram
The Acting Secretary of State to the Secretary of State, at Moscow
us urgent
982. Moskco 71. Eyes only for Marshall from Acheson. I have just talked to Vandenberg who tells me that there has for some day been a whispering campaign to the effect that the Greek-Turkish aid program was formulated in your absence and you have not expressed yourself on it. Vandenberg says this campaign today came into the open in the introduction of a resolution by Senator Wiley to the effect that action on the Bill should be deferred until your return and the Senate has had the benefit of your views. This resolution will be referred to the Foreign Relations Committee where it will be defeated but Vandenberg would like very much to close the debate on the aid program on Tuesday with a brief statement from you indorsing the Bill in strong terms. He said that a one-paragraph statement to the effect that you consider this program indispensable and that you attach the highest order of urgency to it would enable him to close the debate in a highly effective manner next Tuesday.
You might wish to consider including in your statement reference to the fact that prior to your departure for Moscow you participated [Page 148] in the discussions of this program and in the decision to go forward with it; and that the President telegraphed the text of his message of March 12 to you in Paris prior to its delivery in Congress and that it had your full approval.1