Britain Regrets Soviet Use Of Veto In Greek Case

Greymouth Evening Star, 12 August 1947, Page 7

Britain Regrets Soviet Use Of Veto In Greek Case

(Recd. 11.25 a.m.) LONDON, August 11.

The Foreign Secretary, Mr Mayhew, said in the House of Commons tonight that he regretted that the Soviet veto had prevented the United Nations Security Council from, taking action, which nine of the 11 members had approved, to settle the dangerous situation on the Greek frontier. The use of the veto in this manner tended to nullify the usefulness of the Security Council. The British Government would continue to seek the restoration of the original intentions of the Charter’s authors. The Greek Government newspaper Estia said a break between Greece and Russia was likely to follow the complaint by the Soviet Charge D’Affaires last week of “unfriendly acts which are incompatible with diplomatic relations between the two countries.” Estia said that Greece was awaiting a similar move by Jugoslavia.

Political circles in Athens consider that if Greece and Russia sever diplomatic relations the guerrillas may form a “free Greek Government” in the hope that Jugoslavia, Bulgaria, Albania and the Soviet would recognise it.

The military commander at Komontini, in Thrace, warned the guerrillas that in future a lorry-load of Communists would lead lorry convoys. He said that if the guerrillas mined the roads they would kill their own men.