"DRAMATIC" VISIT

Auckland Star, Volume LXXV, Issue 307, 28 December 1944, Page 5

"DRAMATIC" VISIT

WIDESPREAD PRAISE

British Press Hopeful For Settlement In Greece N.Z.P.A. Special Correspondent ilec. 10.30 a.m. LONDON, Dec. 27. Mr. Churchill's visit to Athena md his meeting with Greek leaders las once more given the unhappy situation there first place in tne lews after it had been displaced by Aon Rundstedt's offensive. There s widespread praise of Mr. Churchill or his "dramatic" and "staggering" light and some, concern is expressed or his health, his bout of pneumonia ifter the Teheran Conference being •e'called. Mr. Churcnlll's action in flying to Greece personally on Christmas Day will probably do much to blunt the particularly sharp words which had )een voiced since his House of Commons' speech on the Greek situation. This undoubtedly resulted n more criticism of the Prime Minister than any other cause since le took oflice in 1940. Commenting on His presence in Athens, The Times, in a leader, said: 'The time is past when this tragic iispute could conceivably be ■egarded as no more than an affair )f putting down an intransigent minority of violent men with revoutionary aims. It is increasingly iccepted that a settlement cannot ae founded merely upon the assumption of continuing legality for a Government which was empirically created in Cairo under British mili:ary and diplomatic auspices." Responsibilities Lie Upon Greeks The Times adds that the responsibilities of the conference will lie apon the Greeks themselves. Mr. Churchill's wartime examples of democratic magnanimity and realism furnish a guarantee of breadth of conciliation as well as authority in approach to a settlement. "Time and again, at the height of his political power," The Times proceeded, "he has seemed to challenge and defy criticism with success only to accept entirely, when convinced, the best part of the counsel pressed upon him." The Manchester Guardian, saying that Mr. Churchill had gone to Athens "with one of those flashes'of courage and imagination which will always cause his countrymen to forgive his occasional errors of judgment," adds, "it is a grave and generous gesture not without risks for a man of 70 years. However much Mr. Churchill is to blame for having landed us in this situation his critics will willingly admit that no man could do more to get us out of it." , . Discussing the situation facing Mr. Churchill, the Guardian says that after three weeks of fighting the E.L.A.S. controls the whole of the Greek mainland except for those parts of Athens and Piraeus which are occupied by British troops and the small district of Epirus. They are, therefore, in a strong position in a military sense, their chief weak-' ness being their inability to relieve the hunger and distress of the people until Allied supplies can continue. Politically they are no less strong. There is still no evidence of refusal to negotiate or of determination to secure power by force. The Guardian takes the hopeful view that Mr. Churchill's presence will persuade the Greek leaders, both flight and Left, to moderate their ambitions for the sake of peace. First Constructive Move The Daily Herald, approving Mr. Churchill's visit, regards it as the first constructive move towards a settlement that has come either from Britain or Greece. "Progressive opinion in this country," the Herald proceeds, "will interpret Mr. Churchill's action as following a change of heart since his recent utterances in Parliament," and regards the statements by M. Papandreou as disclosing that he is, bent on the extermination of his i political rivals by British arms. "At best," the Herald adds, "M. Papandreou has displayed utter bankruptcy of statesmanship, which may have influenced Mr. Churchill to make his own sudden drastic and dramatic appearance in Athens." i The Spectator, writing before Mr. Churchill's visit, said: "A political settlement is essential and there can be little doubt that it must involve the elimination, temporary or permanent, of the King." The journal envisaged the formation of "a r.W Government, as comprehensive as possible, on the invitation of the Regent, who will inevitably be Archbishop Damaskinos (if the King refuses his sanction to this he should be ignored), the complete disarmament of all irregular forces of whatever political colour, and the gradual enlistment of a regular army under regulations designed to keep both officers and men out of politics. After that will come elections under Allied supervision." Sources of Information Faulty The New Statesman and Nation, also writing befor* the visit, expressed the opinion all the news made it clear tha. M> Churchill's sources of informati . 'ere grossly lat fault, and added: He seems to i have been a victim of Lio ivn sevenI fold censorship. Tho E.A.M. is not, as Mr. Churchill has been led to believe, a Communist organisation, ' bent on violent revolution. Its recog- ; nised leaders are Liberals." The Economist expresses the opinion that the real issue at stake is the controversy over the Republic and Monarchy and not any coup d'etat by . Left Wing guerillas, allegedly aiming at the imposition of a Communist dictatorship. "The E A.M.," the Economist adds, "is not a band of ruffians and brigands but a large, popular movement whose most determined opponents are Royalists and former Metaxists. Their props include the police and the gendarmerie, whose personnel has been maintained throughout the years of the Metaxist dictatorship and the German occupation and has become the main target of popular hatred." '