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

868.00/2–2647

Minutes of a Meeting of the Secretaries of State, War, and Navy, February 26, 1947, 10:30 a. m.

February 26, 1947, 10:30 a.m.

top secret

Present	State
	Secretary Marshall
	Under Secretary Acheson
	Mr. Henderson
	Mr. Gange
	Mr. Moseley (SWNCC), Recorder
	War
	Secretary Patterson
	Asst. Secretary Petersen
	Lt. General Ridgway
	Navy
	Secretary Forrestal
	Under Secretary Sullivan
	Captain Tichenor

I. Greek and Turkish Situation With Reference to British Notes of February 24, 1947

implementing action

1. Discussions to be undertaken by the British and United States Members of the Combined Chiefs of Staff on the military position of Turkey and Greece.

2. The State Department to consult with the Governments of Turkey and Great Britain regarding the need for economic and financial assistance to Turkey.

3. The following steps set forth in paragraph 10 of the State Department memorandum on this subject distributed by Secretary Marshall.

[Here follow paragraphs lettered (a) through (h). Their language is broadly paraphrased or quoted in the memorandum from the Secretaries of State, War, and Navy, page 59, except that the content of paragraph numbered two in the latter does not appear in these Minutes.]

decision

The Committee agreed:

1. Subject to the changes set forth below, to approve in general the program set forth in the memorandum introduced by Secretary Marshall entitled “Position and Recommendations of the Department of State Regarding Immediate and Substantial Aid to Greece and Turkey.”

2. That the program set forth in this memorandum be submitted immediately to the President for his approval.

3. The Committee agreed to the following changes in the State Department memorandum:

Paragraph 6 and Paragraph 7(a):

Instead of introducing the matter formally into the Combined Chiefs of Staff, the matter will be taken up directly with the British and United States members.

Paragraph 6:

If, as a result of discussions with members of the Combined Chiefs of Staff, it is determined that military supplies should be provided to Turkey, it was generally agreed that it would be preferable for the British to provide the supplies if feasible.

Paragraph 8:

The Committee disagreed with the statement in this paragraph that “half-way measures will not suffice and should not be attempted”.

discussion

1. Secretary Marshall referred to the British notes and asked for the views of the other members. Secretary Patterson said that from a military point of view the independence of Greece and Turkey were of vital importance to the U.S. strategic position. He then presented a Staff Study on the Greek and Turkish situation. Secretary Forrestal pointed out the strategic value of these areas to the Navy.

2. Mr. Acheson explained the difficulties of the British in their present financial situation. Secretary Marshall said that after careful consideration of the British notes the State Department was of the opinion that the British were definitely sincere in their presentation of these problems. Mr. Henderson said that aid to Greece from UNRRA would be of only inconsequential value to their overall needs and that to prevent collapse Greece will need several hundred millions.

3. There was considerable general discussion of the position of Greece and Turkey in relation to the present financial difficulties of Great Britain and the implications of the situation to the United States’ strategic position. There was also further discussion of the general difficulty being encountered in obtaining necessary appropriations from Congress to back up U.S. world responsibilities. Particular note was given to the need of advising the public of the present critical situation. In general, the Committee recognized that the Greek and Turkish problems were only part of a critical world situation confronting us today in many democratic countries and that attention must be given to the problem as a whole.