FOREIGN RELATIONS, -19 4 9, VOLUME VI


proportion in domestic politics and of appreciation-foreign political
repercussions such attitude. Grk courts martial.
   Dept assumes Grk law, unlike that of Anglosaxon countries, makes
 no allowance conscientious objection and 'Dept could compre-end
 prison sentences for objectors (though substitute work programs cer-
 tainly more -humane). We might also comprehend death sentences
 where willful complicity with KKE proved. We are familiar peculiar
 activities US and abroad of pacifist sect to which Tsourkaris allegedly
 belonged, but we aware no evidence sect inspired or allied with com-
 munism (except incidentally where pacifism parallels local commu-
 nist purposes). Jehovah's Witnesses reportedly adhere same pacifist
 principles in Iron Curtain area and suffer consequent persecution by
 communist authorities. It is difficult believe Jehovah's Witnesses
 Greece so numerous as seriously to threaten Grk state or to present
 problem with which precautionary application security laws could not
 cope. Finally it seems illogical execute pacifists when communist con-
 scripts, who likely turn arms against State, merely subject segrega-
tion Category 1C.
  Dept continues receive inquiries re Tsourkaris case from reputable
religious and political sources, including   Quakers who recently
donated 5 tons clothing Grk children, and public anxiety likely turn
to legitimate indignation when facts indicated reftel become known.
  Recommend you acquaint Canellopoulos with foregoing in friendly
but forceful manner and relate to more genl demarche suggested
Dept's A-93, Feb 8.3
                                                           AcirEsoN
  3Not printed. It observed that the perfunctory Greek Government reply to
an
American inquiry initiated in June 1948 in connection with the sentencing
to
life imprisonment for alleged subbversive activities of the brother-in-law
of an
American citizen was hardly satisfactory to American public opinion. The
failure
of -the Greek Government to respond effectively to inquiries of this sort
would,
it was further observed, have unfortunate political consequences. The Embassy
was requested to work out a more systematic method of processing similar
in-
quiries of the Greek Government. (868.00/2-849)

868.014/3-1049
Memorandum of Conversation, by the Chief of the Division of Greek,
              Turkish, and Iranian Affairs (Jernegan)

SECRET                               [WkASHINGTON,] March 10, 1949.
     The Ambassador' left with me, on a purely informal basis, the
attached memorandum setting forth certain views which he had been

  1Vassili G. Dendramis, Greek Ambassador in the United States.


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