AMERICA DENIES INTERFERENCE IN GREECE

Greymouth Evening Star, 17 March 1947, Page 8

AMERICA DENIES INTERFERENCE IN GREECE

WASHINGTON, March 15. “The American programme regarding Greece is the. simple one of giving economic aid in response to an appeal from Greece itself,” declared State Department officials in a .joint broadcast. “It does not - involve, dr interfere in Greece’s internal affairs, an imperialistic adventure on our part, the taking over of British responsibilities in that area, or a political job at all. Our assistance, moreover, will be only temporary, until Greece gets on her feet.-” The 1 speakers were Mr Willard Thorp, Assistant Secretary of State in charge of Economic. Relations, and Mr Hendry Willard, deputy chief of the Office for Middle Eastern Affairs. They contended that the proposal to send "equipment and technicians to strengthen the Greek Army, was merely to assure that there would be adequate means for maintaining law and order while reconstruction was being acconjplished. Belief in Democracy Mr Willard declared: “We could insist, I suppose, that the price to be paid for our . economic assistance must be a Government to our liking. We are not going to do that.” The programme director asked: “What would happen if the Greek people themselves swung away from the American concept of a free people?” Mr Thorp replied: “We are underwriting the Greek people because we believe they are democratic. It is, of course, their privilege to take some other line. In that case, our responsibility ceases.” President Truman, at, Key West, today said he had receiveci from both the Greek Prime Minister (Mr Maximos) and the Leader, of the Greek Parliamentary Opposition (Mr Themistocles Sofoulis) assurances that they would co-operate unreservedly with the United States in achieving stability and internal order in Greece. Mr Truman called upon the Greek rebels to accept with confidence the amnesty which the Greek Government was extending to all except those guilty of crimes against the common law. Moscow Newspaper's Attack “The version of President Truman’s speech on Greece and Turkey, published in the Russian press and broadcast by the Moscow radio, was complete except for those passages providing the ideological justificatiorl for a new course in foreign policy,” says the Moscow correspondent of The Times. “This leaves the Soviet public unaware of Mr Truman’s reference to the ‘alternative ways of life’ between which he said the world must choose.” Pravda, in a leading article, said: “Mr Truman’s speech signified the liquidation of Greece’s sovereignty and the brutal establishment of American overlordship. A loan for Greece is demanded ’ not to aid the people but to fortify a reactionary regime. “America obviously intends to perpetuate British policy in Greece, thus disclosing an American policy of imperialistic expansion,” added Pravda. “America also is obviously preparing to replace Britain in Turkey. “If something really is threatening Greece and Turkey, why does not America bring this matter to the United Nations? Mr Truman has broken America’s obligations to the United Nations and has acted with contempt towards that body. “Already reactionaries like Churchill are rejoicing everywhere at America’s change in policy, but American circles realise the danger of an adventurist policy of imperia 1 i stic expansion.”