Foreign Relations of the United States, 1948, Eastern Europe; The Soviet Union, Volume IV

501.BB Balkan/10–2248: Telegram

The Acting Secretary of State to the Secretary of State, at Paris

restricted

Washington, October 22, 1948—7 p. m.

Gadel 284. Following proposed revision Grk draft resolution:

1. Having considered the reports by the Special Committee established by Resolution 109 (II);

2. Having noted the conclusions of the Special Committee and in particular its unanimous conclusion that, despite the aforesaid Resolution of the General Assembly, the Greek guerrillas have continued to receive aid and assistance on a large scale from Albania, Bulgaria and Yugoslavia, with the knowledge of the Governments of those countries and that the Greek guerrillas in the frontier zones have, as found by the Special Committee:

(1) Been largely dependent on external supply. Great quantities of arms, ammunition and other military stores have come across the border, notably during times of heavy fighting. Strongly-held positions of the guerrillas have protected their vital supply lines from Bulgaria, Yugoslavia and, in particular, from Albania. In recent months, there has been less evidence of receipt of supplies from Yugoslavia by the guerrillas.

(2) Frequently moved at will in territory across the frontier for tactical reasons, and have thus been able to concentrate their forces without interference by the Greek Army, and to return to Greece when they wished.

(3) Frequently retired safely into the territory of Albania, Bulgaria and Yugoslavia when the Greek Army exerted great pressure.

3. Having noted further that the Greek guerrillas in the frontier zones:

(1) Have been able to establish military emplacements in Albanian, Bulgarian and Yugoslav territory and have conducted hostilities from these points against the Greek Army in Greek territory.

(2) Have been supported in their military operations by gunfire directed from Albanian, Bulgarian and Yugoslav territory against the Greek Army in Greek territory.

4. Having noted the recommendations submitted by the Special Committee;

5. Condemns Albania, Bulgaria and Yugoslavia for their conduct with respect to Greece, which constitutes, so long as it continues, an insurmountable obstacle to the establishment of good neighborly relations between Greece and her northern neighbors, a threat to the political independence and territorial integrity of Greece, a danger to world peace and a flagrant defiance of the United Nations.

6. Warns Albania, Bulgaria and Yugoslavia that continuation of this conduct is inconsistent with the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations, and incompatible with the obligations of membership in the United Nations.

7. Summons Albania, Bulgaria and Yugoslavia to cease forthwith rendering any assistance or support in any form to the guerrillas fighting against the Greek Government, including the use of their territories as a base for the preparation or launching of armed action, and in particular to take every precaution necessary to assure that members of armed bands fighting against the Greek Government who come into their territories are disarmed and prevented from reentering Greece without the permission of the Greek Government;

8. Again calls upon Albania, Bulgaria and Yugoslavia on the one hand and Greece on the other hand, to cooperate in the settlement of their disputes by peaceful means in accordance with recommendations contained in Resolution 109 (II);

9. Calls upon Albania, Bulgaria and Yugoslavia to cooperate with the Special Committee in enabling it to carry out its functions and upon Greece to continue to cooperate toward the same end;

10. Calls upon the Governments of Albania, Bulgaria, Greece and Yugoslavia to exercise the utmost diligence to prevent the recurrence of frontier incidents involving the violation of neighboring territory by their respective national forces;

11. Deplores the official encouragement in some other countries of campaigns to provide moral, political or material aid to the Greek guerrillas, which suggest the existence of a broad conspiracy against the political independence and territorial integrity of Greece;

12. Calls upon the Governments of all Members of the United Nations and of all other states to refrain from any action which would directly or indirectly assist any armed group fighting against the Greek Government and to discourage by all appropriate means any such activity on the part of private groups or individuals;

13. Commends the members and attached personnel of the Special Committee for their objective and untiring efforts on behalf of peace, often in the face of hardship and personal danger;

14. Approves the activities of the Special Committee to date, continues it in being with the functions conferred upon it by Resolution 109 (II) and instructs it:

(a) To continue to observe and report with recommendations on compliance with the General Assembly injunction not to furnish aid to the Greek guerrillas in accordance with General Assembly Resolution 109 (II) and the present Resolution;

(b) To continue to utilize observation groups with personnel and equipment adequate for the fulfillment of its task;

(c) To continue to be available to assist the Governments of Albania, Bulgaria, Greece and Yugoslavia in the implementation of Resolution 109 (II) and of the present Resolution:

15. Authorizes the Special Committee to consult, in its discretion, with the Interim Committee (if it is continued) with respect to the performance of its functions in the light of developments in order better to promote compliance with the injunctions of the General Assembly.

16. Requests the Secretary-General to provide the Special Committee with adequate staff and facilities to enable it to perform its functions.¹

Lovett

1. The United States Delegation, on October 24, notified the Department that “Gadel 283 and 284 have arrived too late to become basis of Four-Power resolutions. US political officers have already discussed agreed draft with other delegations; changes suggested in Gadel 284 would not be acceptable to other three co-sponsors and changes would be spotted as US in origin and, in present mood of Greeks, would make us appear more belligerent than those being subjected to aggressive action. We would then face weakening amendments which would carry us farther back than our present agreed draft.” The “present mood of Greeks” refers to information given to the United States Delegation by Greek Foreign Minister Tsaldaris that the Greek representative at the General Assembly would speak in moderate terms and would propose a resolution to be referred to a subcommittee of Committee One composed of the five permanent members of the Security Council (Delga 474, 501.BB Balkan/10–2448). For the agreed draft, see telegram Delga 486, infra.