Foreign Relations of the United States, 1947, The Near East and Africa, Volume V

868.00/9–1747

Memorandum of Meeting With State Department Representatives on the Greek Situation, September 17, 1947¹

September 17, 1947

top secret

Present:

Mr. Loy Henderson, State Department, Mr. Walter Wilds,2 State Department, Major General S. J. Chamberlin, Major General Lauris Norstad, and Brigadier General C. V. R. Schuyler

1. The meeting was arranged by Mr. Loy Henderson and General Norstad primarily for the purpose of reviewing those aspects of the current situation in Greece which would be of interest to General Chamberlin, who, at the request of the State Department, is leaving shortly as a special representative of the Chief of Staff to survey the military situation in Greece.³

2. It was agreed at the outset that, in view of the information appearing in Governor Griswold’s radio to the State Dept, 15 September (CM–IN 2797⁴), there are certain actions which should be decided upon at once without awaiting the results of Gen Chamberlin’s investigations. These actions, as agreed upon by those present, were as follows:

a. State indicated approval of Governor Griswold’s recommendation that the present over-strength authorization of 20,000 for the Greek army, due to expire on 30 September, should be continued for the next three months. War concurred with the understanding that the estimated funds involved (approximately three million) will be provided by transfer from economic to military allocations within the Greek aid program. Additional funds on the same comparative scale will be earmarked for transfer in expectation of further continuance of this over-strength throughout the remainder of the period covered by the present day program. State will notify Governor Griswold accordingly.

b. State indicated approval of Governor Griswold’s recommendation that the Greek army be authorized an immediate increase of 10,000 over and above their present strength. War concurred, it being understood that the necessary cost (six million) will be defrayed by transfers of funds as in a, above. State will advise Governor Griswold.

c. The question of an additional 25,000 rifles, with ammunition therefor, as a possible reserve for future use in Greece was discussed. It was agreed that such a reserve, in addition to the 10,000 rifles recently procured and now en route from England, was desirable for possible future use either in arming peasants or to take care of further possible Greek army increases which might be necessitated by future guerrilla successes. The War Dept (P&O) will investigate the availability of these additional rifles either from British sources or from our own stocks, and will inform State as to the relative costs and other factors which should be considered. Upon receipt of this information, State will recommend procurement as may be practicable on the basis of funds available.

d. The War Dept will take steps at once to earmark four officers, suitably qualified in staff planning matters, in anticipation of a probable recommendation from General Chamberlin that such a group will be required to permit U.S. agencies to take more effective part in advising Greek military authorities on military subjects.

3. It was further agreed that certain problems, although recognized as pressing, would require investigation by Gen Chamberlin in Greece before appropriate solutions could be arrived at. These problems, to which Gen Chamberlin will give particular attention, are:

a. The desirability of arming villagers in those areas cleared of bandits by the advancing Greek army.

b. The necessity for issuance of a new directive to Gen Livesay and possible reorganization of his staff to permit him to operate more effectively as an advisor to the Greek army on military matters and to coordinate his operations with the Ambassador.

c. The desirability of sending to Greece at an early date a group of from 50 to 150 specially qualified officers who could act as “observers” in various Greek army units during their actual field operations. The War Dept (P&O) will begin at once to earmark suitable officers for this task. Their actual dispatch to Greece will await recommendations from Gen Chamberlin concerning their status, i.e., whether they should be additional attachés, training officers under Gen Livesay, or in some other capacity.

4. It was also agreed that Gen Chamberlin, in his report, should feel free to offer comments and recommendations on all matters connected with our national objectives in Greece, and that although he should recognize the present limitations imposed by circumstances, any suggestions he might have for broad changes in our approach to the Greek problem will be welcome. It was suggested that his recommendations be sufficiently viable so that they would prove workable under any set of conditions foreseeable in the near future.⁵

C[ortlandt] V[an] R. S[chuyler]

1. Drafted by General Schuyler, attached to the Plans and Operations Division of the War Department: copy transmitted informally to Mr. Henderson.
2. Walter Wilds, Deputy Coordinator for Aid to Greece and Turkey.
3. In telegram 1565, September 19, the Department informed the Embassy in Athens that Maj. Gen. Stephen J. Chamberlin would arrive there about September 26 to “survey broad strategic and operational factors of present military situation, including matters presented in Amag 222” and to consult with American, British and Greek leaders. The Department expressed its desire to defer determinations on Amag 222 not already approved in Gama 209 until the results of the General’s visit became available (868.00/9–1647). For Amag 222, dated September 15, see p. 337; regarding Gama 209, dated September 17, see footnote 5, p. 340.
4. Presumably Amag 222.
5. For views expressed at this meeting by Mr. Wilds, see footnote 1, p. 367.