GREEK ELECTIONS

Greymouth Evening Star, 11 December 1945, Page 6

GREEK ELECTIONS

DELAY NOT PERMITTED LONDON, December 8. “A proposal from the Greek Foreign Minister (Mr Sofianopoulus) that the Greek elections should be postponed has met with a refusal from the Allied Governments,” says the Athens correspondent of the Associated Press. “It is reliably stated that Mr Ernest Bevih replied emphasising that the Allied Governments, having accepted successive postponements, could not consent to any further delay. He insisted that the elections should be held in March at the latest.” claimsliy E.A.M. ATHENS, December 7. A mass meeting, of members of E.A.M. passed a resolution demanding a general amnesty, full recognition of the resistance movement, the cessation of persecution of its members, the cancellation of ''illiberal laws, and the immediate release oi detainees. After the meeting, members of E.A.M. attempted to hold a demonstration, Which was' forcibly dispersed by the police. REGISTER AND AMNESTY LONDON, December 9. Representatives of the main political parties conferred with the heads of the Allied mission observing the Greek elections, before the mission left Greece by air. Reuter’s Athens correspondent says that members of the EAM threatened they would not participate in the elections if held on the basis of the existing register, which they claim was faked. Socialists supported the allegation but Populists and other Royalists asserted that the register was genuine. The Government decided that, the register, which was to be closed to-morrow, will remain open until January for new inscriptions and the deletion of names proved illegal. The correspondent reports that the Socialists have joined members of the EAM in demanding general amnesty for 10,000 Left Wing supporters awaiting trial. Cabinet to-morrow will consider the question, which has become a major issue, Right Wing parties violently campaigning against the granting of amnesty.