BALKAN INQUIRY COMMISSION

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25181, 12 May 1947, Page 7

BALKAN INQUIRY COMMISSION

RETURN TO NEW YORK NEXT MONTH

PREPARATION OF REPORT AT GENEVA

(Rec. 9 p.m.) LONDON, May 10. American sources in Geneva say that the United Nations Balkan Investigation Commission, which will return to New York next month, will

recommend maintaining a permanent commission on the Greek frontier. Some members of the commission considered that Greece, as well as Jugoslavia, Bulgaria, and Albania, was blameworthy for frontier incidents. The commission is now writing its report and will tackle the most controversial section —its conclusions — next week. “Mr Mark Ethridge, the United States delegate to the United Nations Balkan Investigation Commission, complained that there had been a leakage of confidential information about the American delegation to a Communist newspaper in Athens,” says the Geneva correspondent of the Associated Press. “Mr Ethridge referred to reports which had recently appeared iri the Communist newspaper ‘Rizospastis,’ claiming that the American delegation had suggested that the Greek Government should offer a general amnesty to the guerrillas. “Mr Ethridge said that this was not the first time a confidential document had appeared in this way. The document from which ‘Rizospastis’ secured its information was purely a working document, which did not necessarily represent conclusions. “The French delegate, Professor Georges Daux, announced that the French delegation was recommending that the United Nations shoo’d supervise the granting of an amnesty to Greek guerrillas. “ ‘Rizospastis’ also published what it claimed was the British delegations draft report. The draft did not mention an amnesty.” A State Department spokesman m Washington said yesterday that the United States had not instructed its Ambassador to Greece (Mr Lincoln McVeagh) to negotiate with Greek officials on broadening the Greek Government and putting a “neutral” Prime Minister at its head. The spokesman cited the statement by the Secretary of State (General George Marshall) on February 14, Welcoming the steps taken then to broaden the Government, and he declared the United States viewpoint on this matter was unchanged. The spokesman was commenting on an Athens report that Mr McVeagh was negotiating with Greek leaders, and also working out an amnesty programme. . . The spokesman added: The State Department months ago indicated its belief that an effective amnesty commanding the confidence of all sections of the Greek people would be helpful in bringing about more settled conditions. The United States would welcome any action taken by the Greek Government to this end.”