Telegram from Karl Rankin to Secrertary of George C. Marshall

INCOMING TELEGRAM DEPARTMENT OF STATE-DIVISION OF COMMUNICATIONS AND RECORDS TELEGRAPH BRANCH X 200 A 403 Action: NEA Info: Control 7288 SS E Rec'd December 21, 1948 C 9:04 p.m. o UGT EURK FROM: Athens DCR LOG TO: Secretary of State = SERVICE" NO: 2588, December 21, 5 p.m. While statement of basis US military aid to Greece in GAMA 1341, December 6 (not seen by Ambassador prior to departure for US) seems unexceptional as far as it goes, I feel impelled to emphasize extreme danger of insufficient allowance for psychological or morale factors when appropriations again discussed in Congress. It seems only common prudence to base ourselves on following assumptions, however, unlikely certain of them may appear at present: 1. Like other peripheral countries Greece would be lost in event of major military attack against it by Russia and satellites. 2. Loss of Greece to Communism in peace time (that is, in absence major military attack) could be expected start chain reaction in which Turkey, Italy, et cetera might come to terms with Russia. 3. Without disparaging accomplishments of UN agencies or suggesting that efforts through such channel should not be further pressed in every possible way, UN as such cannot yet be counted on to provide endangered member such as Greece with most elementary protection from aggression envisaged by Charter. 4. Assurance of continued and adequate military and economic support DECLASSIFIED E. O. 11652, Sec. 3(E) and 7-15-75 S(D) D pt. of State letter, NLT HC NARS Date 9-10-76 TOP SECOND ny INFORMATION COPY