Greymouth Evening Star. THURSDAY, DECEMBER 28, 1944. GREEKS AND JEWS.

Greymouth Evening Star, 28 December 1944, Page 4

Greymouth Evening Star. THURSDAY, DECEMBER 28, 1944. GREEKS AND JEWS.

G REBK is now meeting Greek in conference and the world awaits to see if national welfare is to be placed above party and personal advantage. The arrival of Mr. Churchill and Mr. Eden at Athens showed the importance that the British Government places on peace in Greece, and was evidence, too, of British goodwill and initiative, whilst others look on. Mr. Churchill’s speech to the Greek delegates, who were representative of the leading organisations, was excellent in matter, and an adequate .answer to those who have passed resolutions of protest against Britain’s intervention. He spoke frankly of Britain’s determination to see the issue through, and gave ample assurances that Britain had no ulterior motives. The next move is with the Greeks, who if they can overcome their traditional readiness to quarrel among themselves, may lay the foundations of a new era of peace and prosperity.

The Greek people have cause for gratitude to Britain, apart from the immediate food and clothing supplies being contributed. British intervention has given the nation an opportunity to establish true freedom, whereas if the British had evaded an unpleasant task, a Leftist dictatorship would have been instituted, BLAS having present superiority in military organisation. The Rightists would not have accepted deposition calmly, and some form of civil war would have continued. This opportunity to powerful neighbours to fish in troubled waters would not have been disregarded, and this intervention would be disastrous for the Greeks. Britain would not remain passive in such circumstances, as what happens in the Eastern Mediterranean is of importance to her. Another great war might arise from.a dismembered Greece.

Near Greece is another land which is causing Britain considerable anxiety, and that is Palestine. Little is heard about that country owing to censorship, but a long series of outrages have been committed by Jewish terrorists, culminating in the murder of Lord Moyne at Cairo. The criminals in Palestine, with their active and passive supporters, are directly impeding Britain’s war effort, and helping Hitler, the most cruel, implacable and ruthless enemy Jewry has ever known. It was recently announced that officers and men of the Security Services had been murdered in cold blood, and shot while doing their duty in the defence of life and property. Innocent passers-by had been killed and Government buildings to the value of scores of thousands of pounds had been destroyed by explosives and fire. The Jewish people, generally, remain neutral and do not give the British authorities the help they reasonably expect. One result will be to lessen British enthusiasm for the Zionist cause, especially as favours shown to the Jews annoy the Arabs in Palestine and the Moslem world, generally. It is sometimes forgotten that Palestine has been an Arab country for 13 centuries.