Office of the Historian

868.00/11–1147: Telegram

The Acting Secretary of State to the American Mission for Aid to Greece

secret
urgent
Washington, November 18, 1947—9 p. m.

Gama No. 470. Refer Amag 466, 454, 397,1 and other messages dealing with budget problems.

PL 84 funds for Greece now definitely limited to about $40,000,000, to provide quantities of foodstuffs to be cabled separately. All resources under 84 fully committed. Greek share is to cover July–December 1947 shipments.

Dept considers any additional aid should be requested under PL 75, and cannot avoid earmarking for Greece. It is impossible at this date [Page 414] arrange inclusion supplementary Greek Aid Program budget in first budget presentation to special session for interim aid. Dept’s judgment is that request will have better chance for approval by Congress in next regular session, however, if you consider need too pressing for delay Dept is, subject to discussion with Congressional leaders, prepared make separate presentation under PL 75 before close special session. For your info Dept plans tentatively earmark $27,000,000 as Greek share for first quarter of ERP, that is second quarter calendar 1948, however these funds cannot of course be counted on until after legislative action.

[Here follows Department’s request for AMAG to furnish figures and justification for a supplemental budget.]

It is proposed to seek increased OFLC credit amounting to $25,000,000 instead of $10,000,000 suggested Amag 474.2 Your supplemental budget justification should take into account possibilities of securing such a sum and further the likelihood that surplus goods approaching this value can be secured, in ETO or other theatres, of a nature suitable for Greek needs.

View time factor urge reply by 21st November.

Lovett
  1. Dated November 13, November 11, and October 27, respectively. Nos. 454 and 397 are not printed, but see footnotes on pp. 402, 388.↩
  2. Dated November 15, not printed; it reported information from the Greek Government that it had used or contracted for $46,000,000 of its $55,000,000 surplus property credit and that it would probably exhaust the remainder as a result of current negotiations for additional purchases (868.00/11–1547).↩