GREEK ARMISTICE

Greymouth Evening Star, 16 December 1944, Page 5

GREEK ARMISTICE

NEGOTIATIONS CONTINUED

ARCHBISHOP AS REGENT LONDON, December 15. Armistice talks are going on in Athens. .. .... , The “Daily Express political correspondent says: On Thursday the British Minister, Mr. Leeper, conferred with leaders of Greek political parties. Events in Greece have seemingly taken a definite turn fox the better. It is possible that a neutral Government, receiving suppoit from both the Left and Right Wings, may \ be formed under the Archbishop of Athens, Dr. Damaskmos. The Archbishop is regarded as a man of strong character and high integrity, who , would be capable of steering Greece through difficult times until anothei Government can be formed on pure (y political lines. It is likely that Mi. H. MacMillan played a big part in events which led to an easing of the situati0 A “Times” diplomatic correspondent says: There comes lro ™ b # b sides in Greece a suggestion that the Metropolitan, Archbishop Damaskinos of Athens, should be appointed Regent. This proposal is designed to remove the Monarchist question from immediate conti oversyt Th Archbishop is an outstanding per-son-ality, not only because of his high position, but because of his proven character and courageous resistance to the Germans. He has advocated a progressive liberal policy for many years. Dr. Damaskinos became Archbishop of Athens soon after the German occupation, and under him the Church played a traditional part, as a centre of resistance against foreign tyranny. NEGOTIATIONS CONTINUED LONDON, December 15. No new developments have been reported from Athens. Yesterday talks took place between the British Resident Minister (Mr Harold Macmillan) and the Greek Prime Minister (Mr Papandreou). The British Ambassador to Athens (Mr LeepeiJ conferred with leaders of: Greek political parties. A correspondent says that peace rumours in Athens, which are piobably wishful thinking, were not damped down yesterday by a renewal of the fighting. An ELAS broadcast on the Athens radio wave-length said that British aircraft, artillery, and warships yesterday bonjbarded positions in the Piraeus area. Strong British reinforcements have been flown to Athens from Italy.

INCREASING BITTERNESS

LONDON, December 15.

“The Times’s” Athens correspondent says: Feeling between both sides in Greece is growing very bitter. The British troops, who went in to carry out their orders and restore order without the slightest animosity, are now beginning to feel less /friendly. This not only is because they are sniped at and have seen their friends killed and wounded, but because the ELAS are using underhand tactics. Both sides are playing up atrocity stories for propaganda value. Government Right Wing elements are spreading them among the British, and the ELAS are systematically disseminating false news among their supporters. The longer the conflict lasts the more dangerous it becomes for the immediate issue and for future relationships between Greek and Greek, and between Britain and Greece. There is no doubt that the ELAS have seized many hostages indiscriminately from among Right Wing supporters. The police continue to make large-scale arrests among people who are suspected of Left Wing tendencies.* The extremists have, in fact, succeeded in rending Greece in two, thus fomenting class warfare. The issue is. in reality, a simplified fight between the Right and the Left.

It is believed that ELAS forces are regrouping for a new attempt to break into the centre of the city says the British United Press. Sharp fighting went on late on Thursday night near the naval radio station in the Piraeus. There the ELAS forces earlier attacked the .British column. New clashes are reported from the Likivitto’s hill area, where the noise of mortar fire could be heard above ’ the rattle of machine-guns. Wellington bombers were seen over the battle area, dropping flares. MANY CASUALTIES LONDON, December 14. A British United Press correspondent says: “Dead bodies lie in the streets of ‘No-Man’s-Land’ in Athens, and debris fills the roads. I have just reached Central Athens after being trapped in no-man’s-land for three days. The dead include women. Some bodies lie in the streets for days before they can be removed. Hundreds of refugees many of whom are searching for food, move through the streets at night lime. The food problem is serious around the fighting zones. But some shops appear to be open, with an impoverished rationing scheme. The ELAS forces are using a church as a hospital in which I counted 160 wounded. Fourteen-year-old boys are fighting with the ELAS. They are carrying rifles with 1)35’011613 almost as big as themselves.” BRITISH GUNFIRE INCREASED. (Rec. 10.10 a.m.) LONDON, Dec. 15. Gunfire continued all night in Athens despite the heavy rain, says Reuter’s Athens correspondent. Firing was due to offensive action by Greek and British forces in the eastern suburbs. The British 25-pound-ers kept up a continuous fire against ELAS positions on Stadium Hill, half a mile from the Hotel Grand Bretange. These members of ELAS so far have successfully resisted artillery and air attacks. No further ELAS reinforcements were observed moving towards Athens, while more British reinforcements, including tanks and artillery, are reaching the Athens area. It is likely the clearing up of the city from the purely military point of view will take less time than originally estimated on the base of the small force at General Scobie’s command 10 days ago. General Scobie, Mr. MacMillan and Mr. Leeper to-day resumed consultations with Mr. Papandreou. ATTACKS”ON BRITISH. RUGBY, December 15. The British Headquarters at Athens states that insurgent forces made an unprovoked attack on Friday morning on Indian troops on the mainland . north of Patras,. In Athens and Piraeus fighting continued after a temporary lull. On Thursday, insurgent artillery was again in action against the centre of Athens. In Piraeus, an attack, supported by mortar fire, on British troops in the West and Phaleron Bay was repulsed after heavy fighting. Guerilla activity in the Salonika area continues and the situation has not eased.

Among unconfirmed reports from Athens is one that the Communists, in reply to General Scobie’s terms, made three conditions—an armistice, resignation of Mr. Papandreou,- and establishment of a regency. The proposal that the Archbishop of Athens be regent continues to hold the field, but. is so far no more than a proposal. The Allies are still able to send relief supplies to Greece through four

ports, so as far as is known in London. These are Kalamata, Patras, Volos and Salonika. Piraeus is unavailable for this purpose. Owing to the prevailing unsettlement, there may have been some curtailment of distribution. Relief is provided according to the principle originally laid down by the Umted Nations conference, that it should be given liberated countries, regardless of political, religious, racial and other distinctions. Thus supplies were sent to Salonika even though it was known to be under the control of ELAS and it is probable that they distribute it only to their supporters.