Your UN719. Greece.

On the basis of the finding in [Part]A of the proposals of the
Balkans Commission, and the subsequent investigations of the Sub-
Commission [1], we are convinced that the situation in the Balkans
constitutes a threat to the peace within the terms of Article 39.

Australia is therefore obliged to support action by the Security
Council under Chapter VII.

2. However there is no indication from the reports of the Sub-
Commission that there is any danger of outright war between Greece
and Albania, Bulgaria and Yugoslavia. Evidence of the
participation of an 'International Brigade' in the incidents of
July 12-13th, and subsequently, are described as unconvincing.

Moreover the Security Council can only concern itself with the
internal strife in Greece in so far as the insurgents are armed
and supported by Greece's neighbours.

3. It is therefore our impression that the most vital issue in the
Greek case is that the Security Council should function
effectively.

4. It would be disastrous to the prestige of the United Nations if
the Security Council should now fail to act, or if its decisions
should be reduced to futility by the veto, in a situation where
the political interests of the permanent members are affected. The
suggestion of proposals fore-doomed to Soviet veto can therefore
only do the greatest harm to the United Nations.

5. In this situation, the only possibility of effective action is
on the basis of agreement with the Soviet Union. You should
therefore discuss the above points with the representative of the
U.S.S.R. pointing out that Gromyko has himself cited 284 frontier
violations and that a threat to the peace is self-evident. We
would therefore be interested in the reactions of the U.S.S.R. to
proposals for provisional measures under Article 40 providing for
the cessation of hostile acts by all parties and the attachment of
an officer of a neutral State to frontier posts on both sides of
the border whose functions would be to report on the observance of
the Security Council's decisions while direct negotiation between
the parties proceeds.

6. If the Soviet do not agree to this approach we would be glad to
learn how the Soviet consider the present situation can be
remedied.

7. Glad of your urgent comment before proceeding along these
lines. If you agree you should act immediately after discussions
with U.S. and U.K. representatives.