386


FOREIGN RELATIONS, 1949, VOLUME VI


War inquired pointedly how Greeks could be expected to tolerate con-
tinued action this sort. Also yesterday Kosmas, Chief GGS, asked
our Military Attach6 what would reaction be if GNA Division were
required enter Albania in order effectively prosecute operations
against guerrillas.
   In my opinion we cannot expect Greeks scrupulously and invariably
 respect border markings in heat of battle but we must insist Greeks
 undertake no outright military adventures into Albania. In view ima-
 portance of question and Diomedes' attitude as reported by British
 Charg, Department may consider it advisable again to make our
 position this matter unmistakably clear both here and to Dendramis in
 Washington..
   Sent Department 1552; repeated London 64, Belgrade ,66.
                                                              MINOR
   Lt. Gen. Georgios Kosmas, Chief of the Greek Army General Staff.
   4In his telegram 1567, August 8, from Athens, not printed, .Chargo Minor
 reported thatt in conversation with Pipinelis that day he had made clear
beyond
 any question the opposition of the United States to any rash or deliberate
Greek
 military action on Albanian soil. Pi.pinelis replied that the Greek Government
 was in entire accord and had no in tenftion oftaking such actions, but he
did
 point out that he could not guarantee that tbhere would be no minor incidents.
 Pipinelis further explained thaet Greek public opinion was becoming highly
 inflamed over the -Albanian issue acd that t-here must be some-assrance
to the
 Greeks that Albania w wud not -serve for a third time as a base for a guerrilla
 invasion of the Grammos. (868.00/8-849)


                           Editorial Note
   Sometime in early August 1949, British Ambassador Peake con-
ferred with Yugoslav Assistant Foreign Minister Bebler on the Al-
banian situation. In his telegram 928, September 15, from Belgrade,
Ambassador Cannon recalled that the principal theme in the con-
versations was Bebler's preoccupation with the idea, that the Soviet
Union might oblige Albania to invoke its mutual assistance treat*-s.
Cannon observed that the danger of a chain reaction if the system of
satellite mutual assistance pacts were to be operative was the evident
and doubtless the chief deterrent to Yugoslavia risking involvement
in Albanian affairs (875.00/9-1549). Telegram 1175, November 14,
from  Belgrade, not printed, reported that Beble- on August 8 ex-
pressed anxiety to Peake over Greek violations of the Albanian fron-
tier. Bebler hoped that Britain would urge restraint on the Greek
Government. After learning that British authorities in Athens had
given a strong warning to the Greek Government, Peake on August 17
advised Bebler that the Greeks were aware of the Yugyos -vwattitude.
The telegram concluded with. a statement that Ambassador Cannon
was not approaehed at any time during- August about the Yugoslav
autit.de toward possible Greek intervention into Albania. (860-1.75/
11-1449)