PLASMS MAY FORM GREEK GOVERNMENT

Auckland Star, Volume LXXVI, Issue 2, 3 January 1945, Page 5

PLASMS MAY FORM GREEK GOVERNMENT

TALKS WITH REGENT Scobie Refuses To See E.L.A.S. Delegation N.Z. Press Association—Copyright Rec. 10.30 a.m. LONDON, Jan. 2. The Regent of Greece, Archbishop Damaskinos, to-day privately conferred for several hours for the second day running with General Plastiras, "the strong man of Greece," who was summoned from exile to take over virtual command of the Greek Army. This, says the British United Press correspondent in Athens, has increased the belief that General Plastiras may be asked to form a Government. General Scobie refused to see a delegation of three E.L.A.S. members, who arrived at British Headquarters to-day, unless they were willing to accept his terms, said the Associated Press correspondent in Athens. Acceptance Not Confirmed The British Foreign Office says that the following statement was issued in Athens last night:—"When representatives of the E.A.M. Central Committee saw General Scobie this afternoon they brought no confirmation of acceptance by the E.A.M. and the E.L.A.S. of the two conditions for a truce contained in his memoranda of December 12 and 16, maintaining that their memorandum of December 18 amounted to acceptance. This memorandum again raised the question of the future of the Greek Mountain Brigade, the National Guard and the gendarmerie.

"General Scobie reaffirmed his readiness to return the mountain brigade to barracks immediately the truce terms were carried out, but pointed out that the future organisation of the regular Greek national forces was a matter for the new Government to decide.

"The E.A.M. representatives thereupon asked to be received by the Regent. This request was immediately conveyed to Archbishop Damaskinos. who replied expressing pleasure at their readiness to discuss the cessation of hostilities. He emphasised that the questions raised in the E.A.M. memorandum could only be settled by the new Greek Government, which was being formed immediately.

"In transmitting this message from the Regent General Scobie made a final appeal.to the delegates to enable hostilities ~;to be ended' within a few hours by the fulfilment of his two purely military conditions." British Guns Firing > British 25-pounders kept up harassing fire during the night on all main roads leading to Athens, says Reuters correspondent in Athens. Six hundred rounds were fired against five targets, including cross-roads and defiles between 6 p.m. and midnight. Greek troops removed 5001b of dynamite from sewers under the Athens Medical College. General Scobie's communique today says there have been no major developments in Athens in the past 24 hours. The clearing of sectors north-west of the harbour at Piraeus is progressing well. Recruiting for the National Guard in the Athens and Piraeus areas continues satisfactorily. The situation elsewhere is unchanged. U.S. Tribute to Churchill The New York Times says: "Mr. Churchill's visit to Athens revealed the advantages of grasping the Greek nettle firmly. Had he lacked the moral courage to deal fairly with factions he lately denounced as brigands, or the physical courage to face the sniper's bullet, there could have been no peace in that torn and tragic land. Because he possesses both, at least a beginning at conciliation has been made. Mr. Churchill's conferences indicated the unity of the opposition from the Right and Left to the exiled King. Archbishop Damaskinos' success will depend o'n his skill in gathering a representative Administration. If peace and order are to flow from the past turmoil, it will be by the decision of the Greeks themselves."