NEW ZEALAND AND GREECE

Press, Volume LXXX, Issue 24280, 10 June 1944, Page 4

NEW ZEALAND AND GREECE

♦ MR FRASER MEETS LEADERS “ SOLDIERS PLEDGED TO RETURN ” (Official News Service.) ABOARD A TRANSPORT PLANE, June 7. The Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. Peter Fraser, is leaving Egypt by air to-night after a three-day visit, which enabled him to meet a large number of ‘officers and men of reinforcement and base units of the N.Z.E.F. and to have discussions with British and Allied officials. Mr Fraser renewed personal contact with leaders of the Greek Government and had talks during his stay in Cairo with King George and Prince Peter and M. George Papandreou. the newly-appointed Prime Minister. Just before boarding the plane he was a guest of honour at a meeting of the British Hellenic Association, commemorating the third anniversary of the renewal by the Free Greek Forces of the struggle against the Germans. Prince Peter presided, and addresses were given by M. Papandreou. Mr Fraser, and Mr James Payne, Australian Trade Commissioner. After expressing his people’s affection for and gratitude to Britain, Australia and' New Zealand, the Greek Prime Minister said: “We are expecting you back. Your soldiers, when they were leaving our country in 1941. pledged their word to our people that they would come back as liberators. Our hearts are throbbing in anticipation of their coming.” Mr Fraser spoke of the strong bonds of comradeship and mutual affection linking Greece and New Zealand. He said New Zealanders were eager to turn that affection into practical channels by helping Greece in every possible way. As a friend of Greece and spokesman for a nation of friends of Greece, he urged her people to preserve unity within their borders and concentrate all'their energy on driving the Germans out. Mr Fraser’s address was received enthusiastically. MR FRASER RETURNS TO ITALY INVITATION TO VISIT ROME (Official News Service.) ITALY, June 8. Making a brief deviation on his-re-turn flight to London, Mr Fraser is in Italy again in response to the invitation of General Alexander to come back and see the Allied forces in Rome. When Mr Fraser called on the Allied commander at his headquarters last week General Alexander suggested that if Rome fell before the Prime Minister left Egypt for England he should make this further visit to trace the strategy and tactics which led to the fall of the first capital city in occupied Europe and in l which the New Zealand Division played an important part. Rome was occupied by the Allies a few hours after Mr Fraser arrived at Cairo.