GREEK CONFERENCE

Greymouth Evening Star, 28 December 1944, Page 5

GREEK CONFERENCE

MR. CHURCHILL’S ADDRESS

BRITAIN'S GOOD FAITH

LONDON, December 27. Mr Churchill, addressing the Brit-ish-Greek conference in Athens, said: “.Very violent and . unexpected troubles have arisen, and we became involved in them through doing what we believed to be our duty. That duty we shall discharge inflexibly and faithfully to the end. Do not let anyone have the idea that Britain desires any material advantage from Greece. We do not want one inch of your territory. We seek no commercial advantages save those which are offered by Greece to all nations of the world. We have not the slightest intention of interfering with the way in which a normal, tranquil Greece carries on its affairs. Whether Greece is a monarchy or a republic is a matter for Greeks and Greeks alone to decide. “What will enable us to leave Greece? Naturally, now these tragic things have happened, we are bound in honour to bring this matter to a good conclusion. We must, of course, ask for the acceptance and fulfilment of Lieutenant-General Scobie’s terms. We hope there may be established a broad-based Government representative of the Greek nation and possessed of sufficient armed power in the Greek National Army, with the Greek police, to preserve itself in Athens until fair and free general elections can be held throughout the country, or at any rate over the greater part of the country. We hope the voice of the Greek people shall be fully expressed in the same way as we express our voice in Britain and America, by the method of elections based on secret ballot, so that every man, rich or poor, has an equal right to cast the vote of citizenship. ALLIES’ APPROVAL “We British came here with Mr Roosevelt’s and Mr Stalin’s approval. All we want from Greece is our ancient friendship. Mr Eden and I have come all this way, although great battles are raging in Belgium and on the German frontier, to make this effort to rescue Greece from a miserable fate and raise her to a point of great fame and repute. We British, and other representatives of the great united, and victorious Powers, will leave you Greeks to your own discussions under this most eminent and venerable citizen, Archbishop Damaskinos, and we shall not trouble you unless you send for us again. We may wait a little while, but we have many other tasks. My hope is that your discussions will restore Greece to her former fame and power among the Allies and the peace-loving peoples of the world, and secure her northern frontiers from any dangers. “I hope the representatives ol ELAS will not feel we misunderstand their viewpoint and difficulties. We are all in difficulties, but there must be responsibility for the /future and there must be comprehension between man and man. We British came to Greece with good hearts and tuff hands, and with no thought in view but the restoration of Greece to her place in the ranks of the Allies when victory is not so distant. All we seek is that you should live happy and free,- become prosperous, . and tane your place in the councils of the United Nations. I exhort you to believe that I speak on behalf of His Majesty’s Government and that i speak the truth from my. heart. Violent arguments broke out at yesterday’s conference after Mr. Churchill’s departure. The conference at one stage threatened to develop into fisticuffs, says the British United Press correspondent. Mr. Sofoulis, who walked out, remarked that he was disgushed with the Communists’ arguments. General Plastiras denied the ELAS leaders’ claim that ELAS had delivered Greece from the enemy. He added that the liberation was a consequence of the Allied victory. The conference broke up at 9.30 Archbishop Damaskinos said the conference would reassemble, probably to-day, and possibly with other delegates'participating. DELEGATES DISARMED. LONDON, December 27. The intense cold and lack of heating compelled all the delegates to keep their overcoats on. Before entering Hie conference room, the ELAS delegates were requested to hand over their weapons. Field-Marshal Alexander and Lieutenant-General Scobie likewise laid down their side-arms before entering the room. “The sound of gunfire was heard in the dimly-lit conference room while Mr. Churchill was addressing the gathering,” says the “Daily Mail” correspondent in Athens. “Fighter aeroplanes circled overhead continuously almost from the moment of Mr. Churchill’s arrival. “Athens on Monday night was one of Europe’s most brilliantly lit cities. Wellington bombers for hours cruised over the city, dropping flares, which kept the whole area illuminated.” The diplomatic correspondent of the “Daily Mail” says: “Mr. Churchill and Mr. Eden at the last minute cancelled all their Christmas arrangements. Both had intended to spend a few quiet days in the country, but Mr. Churchill decided that his presence in Athens was imperative. They left in extremely bad flying weather, Mr. Churchill having obtained the King’s and the War Cabinet’s approval of his journey.”

THANKS TO BRITAIN

RUGBY, December 27

Addressing the Athens conference, Mr Papandreou said: “I desire to express, on behalf of the Government, the appreciation of’both Government and people of Greece for the inexhaustible friendship of Britain and for the services she has rendered us during, the time of her own struggle, for her impartial assistance in our most recent struggle for liberation, for the financial assistance she has given us, for saving the ruins of our historic country and for reconstructing it. When the unexpected hour of internal crisis came she ranged herself on the side of our Government and people to support the peoples liberated. For that reason we express our appreciation and pray that spirit which has given us this honour may lead to the end of this bloody struggle for liberation and unity. Mr Papandreou said the restoration of peace in Greece was essential to their own future, ahd also to enable Greece to take her place at the side of her great ally against the principal enemy. - The ELAS representative, Mr Partsalides, who is a Communist, expressed the hope that the conference would bring the desired results. “Despite the fact we find ourselves face to face with exceptional circumstances,” he said, “I feel or rather we are convinced that these clashes between the Greek people and between them and the British troops will nor shake the traditional relations of the Greek peopte with British people. He added that the Greeks had risen as one man because they had the deep conviction that the common struggle—for the destruction of Fascism and the securing of the enjoyment of the right of all people to live freely on the basis laid down in the Atlantic Charter, at Teheran, and after—must, be continued. . They thanked Mr Churchill for taking the initiative, but considered EAM was the first to rise in support of the great struggle which the British Empire waged alone, should have been ’invited to attend the conference. Mr Eden said they had striven to get representatives of all shades of

Greek opinion at the conference, and those present were free to invite anyone else they wished to attend. ELAS PROPOSALS. (Rec. 10.15) LONDON, December 27. With a background of heavy ex-, plosions, machine gun fire and the roar of R.A.F. planes, representatives of Greek political parties held another conference to-day, when additional delegates participated in the conference, which reassembled in the morning and concluded in the afternoon. ELAS delegates, before their departure, submitted proposals which are now being considered. The “Exchange Telegraph” Athens correspondent says that the ELAS demands are first a plebiscite on the Question of the Greek King, to be held on the first Sunday in February, under the supervision of,international delegates; secondly, a general election of the national assembly by April at the latest; thirdly 40 to 50 per cent representation in the Government, including the portfolio of the Ministry of the Interior; fourthly, purging of the police and public services and dissolution of the gendarmerie; fifthly, the formation of a new government, the President of which must enjoy the confidence of the majority; sixthly, the establishment of a Regency, if the other parties do not object; seventhly, the punishment of collaborators; eightly, the disbanding and reorganisation of the National Guard formed after the outbreak of civil war; ninthly, the reorganisation of the Navy. , A forty-five minutes “cease fire along the route to the conference was arranged to-day between ELAS forces and the British. Elas delegates were transported to the conference in a British armourer car, flying a white flag. , The Associated Press correspondent says: “Members of the ELAS yesterday broke a previously arranged 45 minute truce, timed to begin at 3p.m., while ELAS delegates were being brought to the conference when an ELAS 75 m.m. gun went into action at 3.10 p.m., the shell landing 200 yards from a British warship in Piraeus. A second shell landed shortly afterwards near the Anglo-Greek naval headquarters. The British immediately informed ELAS that the truce was regarded as null and void and that the offensive air action would again begin. PREMIER’S OFFER TO RESIGN RUGBY, December 27. The ELAS proposals to the Athens conferencec unacceptable to the Liberal and Popular Parties include the 40 to 50 per cent. ELAS membership of the Cabinet, and the holding of Ministries of Interior and Justice, as well as the Under-Secretaryship _ of Foreign Affairs, and the dissolution of the Greek Mountain Brigade and other formations. The Prime Min-, ister was willing to resign if it would assist in reaching a satisfactory decision. ~ 21 T, Peter Rallis, representing the Popular Party, declared ELAS terms were “absolutely unacceptable, where!ore the Popular Party will not participate in any more talks.” Spiro Theotokis, representing the National Popular Party, said his group would not continue to negotiate with the Left Wing parties.

BRITISH PRESS OPINIONS

TRIBUTES TO MR CHURCHILL

(N.Z.P.A. Special Correspondent)

(Rec. 10.55 a.m.) LONDON, Dec. 27. Mr Churchill’s visit to Athens and his meeting with Greek leaders is once more given the unhappy situation ql first place in the news from where it had been displaced - by Rundstedt’s offensive. There is widespread praise for Mr Churchill for his “dramatic,”] “staggering” flight, and some concern! expressed for his health, his bout ol I pneumonia after the Teheran Conference being recalled. Mr Churchill’s action in flying to Greece personally on. Christmas Day will probably do much to blunt the particularly sharp words which had been voiced since his Commons speech on the Greek situation. This undoubtedly resulted in more criticism of the Prime Minister than ay other since he took office in 1940. Commenting on his presence m Athens, “The Times,” in a leader said: The time is past when tins tragic dispute could conceivably be regarded as not more than an affair ol' putting down an intransigent minority of violent men with revolutionary aims. It is increasingly accepter: that a settlement cannot be founded merely upon the assumption of continuing legality for a Government j empirically created in >Cairo under, British military and diplomatic auspices. “The Times” adds: The responsibilities of the conference will lie upon the Greek themselves. Mr Churchill s war-time examples of democratic magnanimity and realism furnish a guarantee of the breadth of conciliation as well as authority in the approach to a settlement. ‘Time anq again at the height of his political power he has seemed to challenge and defy criticism with success oniy to accept entirely, when convinced the best part of the counsel pressed upon him.-” ~ The “Manchester Guardian; saying that Mr Churchill had gone, to Athens “with one of those flashes pi courage and imagination which will always cause his countrymen to forgive his occasional errors of judgment,” adds: “It was a brave .and generous gesture, not without risks lor a man of seventy. However mucn Mr Churchill is to blame I'or having landed us in this situation, his critics will willingly admit that no man couid do more to get us put of ff. Discussing the situation facing mm the ‘Guardian.” says: Alter three weeks’ fighting ELAS controls the whole of the Greek mainland excepi for those parts of Athens and Piraeus occupied by British troops and a small district of Epirus. They are. therefore, in a strong position, militarily, their chief weakness being inability to relieve the hunger and distress of the people uffi l ! supplies can continue. Politically, they are no less strong. There is still no evidence of a refusal to negotiate pi determination to secure power by force. The “Guardian” takes the hopeful view that Mr Church ils i presence wil persuade the Greefi leaders, both Right and Left, tc moderate their ambitions for the sake of oeace* “The “Daily Herald” (Labour) approving Mr. Churchill’s visit regards it as the first constructive move towards a settlement that will come either from Britain or Greece. Progressive opinion in this country will interpret Mr. Churchill’s action as following A CHANGE OF HEART since his recent utterances in Parliament,” and the paper regards the statements by M. Papandreou as disclosing he is bent on the extennmation of his political rivals by British arms. It states: “At best, M. Papandreou displayed utter bankruptcy ol statesmanship, which may have influenced Mr. Churchill to make his own sudden drastic dramatic appearance in Athens.” “The Spectator,” writing before Mr Churchill’s visit, said: “A political settlement is essential and there can be little doubt it must involve the elimination, temporary or permanent, of the King.” The journal envisages the formation of “a new Government as comprehensive as possible on the invitation of the Regent who will inevitably be Archbishop Damaskinos (if the'King refuses sanction to this he should be ignored). ■ Complete disarmament of all irregular forces of whatever political colour and the

gradual enlistment of a regular army under regulations designed to keep both officers and men out of politics. After that will come elections under Allied supervision.” The “New Statesman and Nation also writing before the visit expressed the opinion that all news makes it 'Clear Mr. Churchill’s sources' of information were grossly at fault. It added: He seems to have been the victim of his own sevenfold censorship. EAM is not as Mr. Churchill had been led to believe, a Communist organisation bent on violent revolution. Its recognised leaders are Liberals. ... ■, . “The Economist” is of opinion that the real issue at stake is controversy over a republic and monarchy, not any coup d’etat by Left Wing guerrillas allegedly aiming at the imposition of a Communist dictatorship. EAM is not a band of ruffians and brigands, but a large and popular movement whose most determined z opponents are loyalists and former •' Metaxists. Their props include police and gendarmeries, whose personnel has been maintained throughout the years of Metaxist dictatorship and German occupation, and become the main target of popular hatred. FIELD MARSHAL’S REGRET

LONDON, Dec. 27. Field Marshal Alexander, who made a speech at the conference after Mr. Churchill, said that he was pained to find his soldiers fighting m Greece when the only enemy was the Germans. Therefore, he played that the conference would be successful. He said: “I know well the worth, of your troops and instead of my having to pour British troops into Athens, you should be pouring Greek brigades into Italy to march shoulder to shoulder with my victorious troops against the common foe.” After Mr. Partsalides had spoken Mr. Churchill said: “We have began the work. Make sure you finish it.”

ATHENIANS’ PLIGHT

LONDON, December 26.

“Athens is in a sorry state after three weeks of fighting,” says the Athens correspondent of the “Daily Express.” “Hundreds of civilians have been killed by stray bullets and by the machine-gunning of ELAS positions. Many people are on the verge of starvation, in spite of the establishment of soup kitchens in the British-held areas. Some have died of hunger. Hospitals on both sides are short of - medical equipment and bandages. X-ray apparatus is out of action because of the absence of electric power, resulting in probing for shrapnel splinters, instead of clean operations. All these conditions mean epidemics unless radical measures are taken, which are impossible while one half of the city is warring against the other half.”

RELIEF MEASURES

(Rec. 11 a.m.) LONDON, Dec. 27. A correspondent reports that the Greek Government and ELAS leaders have co-operated to restore part of the Athens water supply. British troops have sunk an artesian well in the gardens of the Royal Palace as a precaution against future stoppages. Reuter’s correspondent says that the British and American Relief Organisation to December 16 landed 66.337 tons of foodstuffs at the nine principal ports on the Greek mainland and on islands. No supplies have been landed at Piraeus since the fighting began. Unloading at other ports has been greatly curtailed or brought to a standstill. A small-scale ELAS attack against an R.A.F. airfield five miles outside Athens last night was beaten off with a few British casualties.