Real History, Greece, and Churchill’s War Churchill and Greece [Source: US National Archives, RG-226, OSS files].

.JP 2 Jan 45 Athens GA-37 8 FR E E OFFiCE OF STRATEGIC SERVICES A48394 COUNTRY GREECE: Political SUBJECT EAM Memorandum to Churchill SOURCE Z Pterodactyl SUB SOURCE DATE OF INFORMATION PLACE OF ORIGIN GREECE 30 Dec 44 ORIGINAL REPORT NO: GA-378 DATE OF REPORT 2 Jan 45 EVALUATION Documentary CONFIRMATION SUPPLEMENT )-4 1307 CORRECTION ) NUMBER CF PAGES 2 ATTACHMENTS THEATRE – ME Athens Below is the complete text of a memorandum from the EAM Central Committee to Churchill, dated 28 Dec 44,

translated from the text published in the 30 Dec issue of Elevtheri Ellada , the official organ of the EAM Central Committee. “Your Excellency: The Greek people, at the happy event of’ your arrival in Athens felt great relief because they believed your presence here would be decisive in ending the tragic situation which exists in Greece between Greeks and British.

For your initiative in calling a conference for finding a solution to the Greek crisis we express our thanks on behalf of the great part of’ the Greek people which we represent. Unfortunately during the second meeting of’ 27 Dec, although we proposed a very logical basis for agreement, it was shown that the negotiations were being protracted by the opportunist policy of’ one part of’ the old political world of which the aim was to win by force, relying on British arms..

Those were the same people who, with their irreconcilability, their bad advice and their distortion of the true aims of our fight, managed to entangle the British troops in Greece in a fight against the Greeks. Today they follow from afar the drama of the Greek people and are indifferent to the blood of Britishers and Greeks which is being shed. They postpone the solution of the crisis hoping for party gains.

The sad truth is this section of the Right is encouraged in its irreconcilable policy by the fact that, while political discussions are being held, strafing and shelling of workers’ districts and the fight of British troops against the Greek people continues. At the same time, the tragedy, of famine and bloodshed is approaching the climax. You will permit us to believe, your Excellency Mr.

Prime Minister. that there is nothing to justify the continuation of the fight inasmuch as F R E E GA-378 OFFICE OF STRATEGIC SERVICES – 2 – the Left has accepted the basic points of Scobie’s memorandum and with its moderate suggestions in the political field helps greatly in finding a solution of all pending problems. The stopping of hostilities would have created the right atmosphere for an agreement because it would have obliged the extreme Right to become less intransigent.

The Greek people have never stopped for a moment their feeling of unshakeable faith and deep gratitude towards their great Allies, particularly towards Great Britain. Their burning desire is to see all armed forces in common fight to crush Hitler’s Germany. Our immediate and only aim is to stop bloodshed and

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