880 FOREIGN RELATIONS, 1946, VOLUME IV

ther consideration to the point you made that there was great opposi-
tion in America over the cable running to North America passing
through Gibraltar, but I was pleased to note that you had no objection
to the other cables being operated in that way.

Your proposal for the cable to North America places me in a very
great dilemma. On the ground that people in America are suspicious of
Great Britain and our staffs you suggest that it should pass through
Franco-—Spain.

I would remind you that in this country this would lead to very
great political difficulties. I should be accused again of favouring
Franco and I do not know whether you have given consideration to
this point.

On the other hand, I am advised that the commercial traffic to and
from the United States 1s now routed from Rome to New York via
Milan, Paris, Cherbourg and Horta thus bypassing Gibraltar.

I think it is most regrettable that these suspicions should exist and
I would prefer that this question should be dealt with on a purely
business basis. At the same time, I repeat that it is politically extremely
dificult for me to agree to an arrangement which seems to place
Franco-Spain in a position of greater trust than Great Britain.

Yours sincerely, Ernest BEvIN

 

868.014/10-446 : Telegram

The Ambassador in Greece (MacVeagh) to the Acting Secretary
of State

SECRET ATHENS, October 4, 1946—9 p. m.
[Received October 4—6 : 20 p. m. ]

1344. Contention of leading Greek politicians now journeying to
Paris with Prime Minister, (Mytel 1343 to Department, repeated
Paris as 87 *') that an act of “international injustice” has been com-
mitted by Peace Conference in turning down Greek proposals for
strategic adjustment of Bulgarian frontier * contrasts with attitude
of Pipinellis, King’s political adviser, now returning Paris on same
plane, with whom I talked yesterday, who has apparently learned to
see “justice for Greece” in larger perspective as part of whole difficult
problem of European peace settlement.

* Not printed.

™ The Greek proposal for modification of the frontier was defeated at the 15th
Meeting of the Political and Territorial Commission for Bulgaria, October 1;
for the United States Delegation Journal account of the proceedings of that
meeting, see vol. 111, p. 610.

In telegram 1324 from Athens, October 2 (repeated to Paris as telegram 81),
MacVeagh had reported that the Greeks were very depressed concerning recent
developments at the Peace Conference; for text, see vol. VII, p. 228.