GREER LEADER RESIGNS

Press, Volume LXXXI, Issue 24536, 9 April 1945, Page 4

GREER LEADER RESIGNS

Indiscreet Letter Published

NEW GOVERNMENT PLANNED (N.Z. Press Association-Copyright) (Rec. 11 p.m.) LONDON. April B. The Greek Prime Minister (General Plastiras) is reported by the Paris radio to have handed the Regent (Archbishop Damaskinos) bis Cabinet s resignation. a Reuter’s correspondent in Athens reports that Archbishop Damaskinos has asked Admiral Voulgaris, former Com-mander-in-Cbief of the Greek Navy, who is a member of the Venizelist Party, to form a Government. The 8.8.C. correspondent in Athens (Kenneth Matthews) says that Admiral Voulgaris will form a small non-party Government of transition to bridge the gap before the elections this year. r, General Plastiras is expected to resign,” said ‘The Times” correspondent in Athens in an earlier dispatch. “This follows the publication of a letter he wrote to the Greek Ambassador to Vichy in July. 1941, explaining'how. toward the end of November, 1940, he tried to secure a negotiated peace between Greece and Italy through the intervention of Germany, because Greece was not a match for Italy, and a continuation of the war would only mean disaster apd ruin. “The publication of the letter is the climax to a campaign which the Popular Party, now out and out Royalist, has been waging against General Plastiras because he resisted its efforts for a speedy plebiscite on the question of the King’s return, and because it considers him too lenient toward the Left. The aim of the Popular Party is to establish a monarchist dictatorship, for which it is imperative it should get the King back. “Most Greek politicians have been for a long time aware of the letter which has been tacitly ignored because similar accusations could be levelled against many other public figures. General Plastiras’s first reaction was to do nothing, but the general opinion is that unless he resigns the Regent will dismiss him. His successor will probably be Admiral Voulgaris, who will have to decide the plebiscite question.”

The Athens radio says the Greek General Staff has ordered the reinforcement of the gendarmerie by 12,000 men "to enable the gendarmerie to guard all the villages.” The men are being selected from volunteers of the 1041-45 mobilisation classes. The police also are being reinforced by 10JOO men from the National Guard.