DICTATORSHIP TO AVERT RED REVOLT.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 185, 6 August 1936, Page 7

DICTATORSHIP TO AVERT RED REVOLT.

SET UP IN GREECE.

King's Reluctant Assent To Action. PEOPLE CONDONE MOVE. United Press Association.—Copyright. (Received 1 p.m.) ATHENS, August 4. With the King's approval, a military dictatorship has been proclaimed by the Prime Minister, General Metaxas and the Chamber has been dissolved. These measures are attributed to the discovery of a Communist plot. Another source says they were necessary in order to counteract the calling of a general strike. Contradictory reports of disorders and complete calm are filtering out of Greece, with which telephonic and cable communication is interrupted. The Graeco-Yugoslav frontier is closed. Reports of serious clashes, however, are discounted.

"The Times" Athens correspondent, says a London message, says there is no outward sign of the military dictatorship. The majority of people are tired of the incessant party bickerings and appear to condone General Metaxas' action.

Tile "Manchester Guardian" Vienna correspondent explains that General Metaxas has long desired to establish a dictatorship but that King George 11. was opposed to the plan. Apparently, he has at last consented, under the influence of events in Spain, but has departed to Corfu to disclaim responsibility.

The newspaper "Journal d'Athens," the official organ, explaining the Government's action, stated»that the country faced an abnormal situation. It was on the eve of a seditious movement fostered by Communist propaganda, which aimed at the disaffection of the army, spreading a spirit of anarchy and then taking advantage of anarchy and squabbles among political parties.

By an unbridled Press campaign, Communism was preparing to overthrow the social regime and break up Greek society, towards which the first step was to have been the present strike.