841.2368/9–1247: Telegram
The Ambassador in the United Kingdom (Douglas) to the Secretary of State
top secret
London, September
12, 1947—8 p. m.
4952. For the Secretary from Douglas. Deptel 3883, September 8; Embtel 4892 September 10. Bevin talked to me this morning about retaining troops in Greece.
- 1.
- He said that to keep them over the winter involved the problem of accommodations for the cold weather, which he said presented some difficulty.
- 2.
- He would like to withdraw one battalion consisting of not more than 800 men, leaving the remainder in Greece until at least December 15. (He added for me only, which I pass on for you and Lovett personally, that in his opinion events between now and then would justify him in keeping troops longer.)
- 3.
- The withdrawal of the one battalion, to which reference is made above, would satisfy two considerations: (a) his own political situation here and (b) a precedent for the withdrawal of Soviet troops in Bulgaria.
- 4.
- He asked whether this arrangement would be satisfactory. I replied that obviously we would much prefer that no troops be withdrawn and that they be retained beyond December 15 but that I would submit what he had told me to you.
Would appreciate your further instructions.1
Douglas
- The Department, in telegram 3988, September 13, to London, reluctantly agreed “to Bevin’s suggestion of withdrawal of not more than 800 men provided we can be given definite assurances that there will be no further reduction in troop strength at least until Dec 15 and provided withdrawal is accomplished quietly without publicity in Greece and in a manner which will not create impression that this is start of major withdrawal movement.” (841.2368/9–1247)↩