URGENT TERMS

Evening Star, Issue 26042, 5 March 1947, Page 7

URGENT TERMS

GREEK NOTE TO AMERICA

APPEAL FOR FINANCIAL AID

(Rec. 11.35 a.m.)

WASHINGTON, March 4. The State Department reveals that Greece has appealed to the United States for financial help to bolster up its economic position. The text of the Note, which was delivered to the State Under-secretary, Mr Dean Acheson, yesterday, was not revealed, but the department, spokesman said its appeal -was couched in 1 “ urgent ” terms. . The Note made no reference to the British Note received earlier asking the United States to take over British commitments in Greece. The spokesman said that Greece didi not specify the sums required, or the purpose to which they would be applied. The State Department meanwhile awaits Britain’s reply to the United States Note of March 1, in which the United States is believed to have agreed in principle to relieve Britain of her financial commitments in Greece, but expressed the hope that Britain would maintain her military forces in Greece. . “

The Secretary of State, Mr George Marshall, in a statement issued to journalists said that the pleas of Britain and Greece had received President Truman’s “ urgent attention ” because, “in the light of the world situation, this is a matter of primary importance to the United States.’’ Mr Marshall added that Britain had already ’ “ bent every effort ” to help Greece, but “ recent reports have sliown that the economic condition of Greece has deteriorated to the verge of collapse.’’ Mr Marshall admitted that President Truman had conferred with Congressional leaders on the subject, and he said that a complete public statement on the Greek crisis, and its implications to the United States, would be made soon. “ The problems involved are so far-reaching and of such transcendent importance,” he stated, “ that any announcement relating to them could properly come only from President Truman.