POLITICAL INTRIGUERS ACTIVE

Evening Post, Volume CXXXVIII, Issue 147, 19 December 1944, Page 5

POLITICAL INTRIGUERS ACTIVE

LONDON, December 18. Intrigue and jockeying for position are at present proceeding among Greek politicians, particularly among the members of M. Papandreou's Government, in connection with the proposed Regency council, states the Athens correspondent of "The Times." The most likely course seems the appointment of Archbishop Damaskinos >as Regent and relinquishment of the idea of-a council. There cannot be an objection to Damaskinos, and it is practically certain that the EAM would welcome the appointment. M. Papandreou's Government meanwhile appears to be disintegrating rapidly. Only force of circumstances is holding together its uneasy and slightly hostile members. The political parties are not helpful, and the previously large and influential Liberal Party is now split into groups which cannot get together. They are all advancing conflicting views. Other political leaders are joining the scramble, with then* eyes fixed firmly on the main chance. M. Papandreou proved himself at Beirut to be a magnificent statesman and leader, and his personality has kept the National Government to--1 gether. He cannot, for reasons outside \ his control, recommend \mity, and it $ will be difficult to find a successor who is capable of it. the correspondent \ says.