AMERICAN POLICY IN BALKANS

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25301, 29 September 1947, Page 7

AMERICAN POLICY IN BALKANS

Sharp Warning Given By Mr Gromyko (N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) (Rec. 12.15 a,m.) NEW YORK, September 27. The Soviet Union called on the United Nations General Assembly to-day to order all foreign troops out of Greece, and gave a sharp warning that American policy in the Balkans might lead to the collapse of the United Nations. Mr Gromyko (Russia), in a bitter 72-minute speech before the Assembly’s Political Committee, accused the United States (1) of flagrant interference in Greek internal affairs; (2) of not wanting to see a peaceful settlement of the Greek dispute; (3) of taking sides in Greek politics and so spurring civil war; (4) of violating Greek sovereignty by sending 18,000 military instructors to Greece; and (5) of provoking Russia to veto after veto in tfte Security Council on the Balkans case. He also accused the Greek Government of “hatching” a war between Russia and the United States. “The Soviet Union must state frankly and directly that this road is harmful and dangerous to the United Nations,” he said. “I warn not only those who are directly responsible hut those who lend them direct or indirect aid. I must warn them.”

The entire case of the Greek leaders, he continued, was based on a desire to get Rid from abroad to help their far-flung plans. “They are awaiting a conflict between the United States and Russia. They are spreading criminal propaganda for war between the East and West. A Fascist clique is hatching plans for a new war.” Mr Gromyko rejected the American motion accusing Albania, Bulgaria, and Jugoslavia of supporting the. guerrilla warfare against the Greek Government and calling for the establishment of a special committee to investigate the disturbances. He submitted \a counter-proposal, which was a PPPY of ffie motion rejected by the Security Qpuppil, putting the blame for border unrest solely on Greece, demanding the withdrawal of foreign troops from Greece, and asking the Assembly to create a commission to supervise aid to Greece (an apparent reference, says the Associated Press, to the Truman aid programme). Mr Gromyko’s motion was placed on the committee’s agenda for debate. The committee received replies from Bulgaria and Albania—which are not members of the United Nations—to the committee’s decision earlier in the week to allow them full participation, in the Greek debate provided they accepted in advance the obligations of the United Nations Charter dealing with the peaceful settlement of disputes. Bulgaria said that she had given her pledge when shehad applied for membership. Albania declared that she could not agree to the imposition of any conditions whatever on her right to speak. The committee to-day, after a long procedural debate, decided by 39 votes to one, with 11 abstentions, to let both Governments appear as witnesses, but not as participants, in the debate. Only Czechoslovakia Voted against the motion.' , Mr Gromyko denounced it as an in-? suit to the two Balkan Governments, but abstained from voting. The committee adjourned until Monday.