GREEK POLL

Greymouth Evening Star, 21 March 1946, Page 7

GREEK POLL

PROCEEDING AS ARRANGED

BRITAIN’S ADHERENCE TO UNDERTAKING UNSWAYED BY PRESSURE (Rec. 2.15 p.m.) LONDON, Mar. 20. “His Majesty’s Government has always been in favour of the earliest possible elections in Greece and remains so,” says a statement issued by the Foreign Office. The statement reviews at length the negotiations leading to the fixing of March 31 as the date of the Greek general election. It says that all arrangements have been made by the Allied mission of observers for the elections on March 31 and all plans for of proper conduct have been organised.

"It will also be remembered that the Soviet Government placed on the agenda of the United Nations Assembly the question of the presence of British troops in Greece and His Majesty’s Government then declared that its _ object was to press on with the elections and soon after, as conditions allowed, to withdraw the British troops. “The refusal of certain parties to participate in the elections does not and cannot invalidate the agreements entered into between the Greek Government and His Majesty’s Government. Accordingly when His Majesty’s Government was asked for advice concerning the further postponing of the elections it replied that it would be wrong to do so and delay the people’s right to' express their views through the ballot box regarding the Government they want. “His Majesty’s Government does not take the view that the state of security in Greece would improve if the elections were postponed for two months. The state of uncertainty would continue and the reconstruction of the country would be hampered. “His Majesty’s Government has done all in its power financially, morally and economically to institute methods for the rebuilding of Greece. All this progress is held up by the uncertainty about the elections and His Majesty’s Government would not be doing its duty if now, because of pressure—some of which is from outside and some from within it —went back on its undertakings.”

LEFT WING BOYCOTT MAY BE DROPPED LONDON, March 20. A Reuter correspondent at Athens stated that it is reported that the Regent of Greece, Archbishop Damaskinos, sent a message to Mr. Bevin recommendin'* a fortnight’s postponement of the Greek elections for technical reasons. It is understood that Archbishop Damaskinos gave as ’a reason for such a postponement the delay in submitting the lists of candidates, and also the possibility that the Left Wing parties may now participate if such a postponement is granted.