CAB129-35 — Page 24

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IS DOCUMENT IS THE PROPERTY OF HIS BRITANNIC MAJESTY'S GOVERNMENT)

SECRET

C.P.(49) 113

16TH MAY, 1949

>

CABINET

GREECE

**

COPY NO.

Memorandum by the Secretary of State

for Foreign Affairs

Statement of problem

My colleagues will be interested to know that the Soviet Representative at the United Nations General Assembly has made proposals in New York to the Minister of State and to Mr. Rusk of the United States State Department for a settlement of the Greek civil war on the basis of the rebel peace offer of 20th April. These proposals contemplate a cease-fire under the auspices of the Great Powers, a general amnesty "on both sides", fresh elections under the supervision either of an ad hoc body representing both sides or of a United Nations commission, and the eventual normalisation" of relations between Greece and her northern neighbours.

2.

The proposals are quite unacceptable as they stand. They place both parties to the civil war on a basis of equality and they would, if accepted, enable the communists by means of renewed infiltration and trickery to retrieve their fortunes from the low level to which the determination of the Greek people has consigned them. It would, however, in my opinion be a mistake to return a completely negative answer to the Soviet overture since, apart from anything else, there is always the possibility that it may reflect a genuine desire on the part of the Soviet Government to compose their differences with us in this part of the world, if only for temporary tactical reasons. Because of this possibility it seems essential to reach agreement with the United States Government on what our minimum requirements would be for a general settlement in the area concerned before any substantive answer is returned. have therefore instructed H.M. Ambassador in Washington to ask Mr. Acheson whether he would be willing to take the opportunity of our meeting in Paris for the Council of Foreign Ministers to join me in making a detailed study of our position in the Balkans, and I have instructed the Minister of State to send an interim and non-committal reply to the Soviet Representative.

Recommendation

3.

I

Assuming that Mr. Acheson accepts my suggestion, I shall be glad of authority to examine with him in Paris the best method of making use of the Soviet overture so as to achieve not only Pea39-6366in Greece but a general settpage of 366

sottome

outstanding Balkan problems.

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