WEST REJECTS MOSCOW MOVE ON GREEK ISSUE

Greymouth Evening Star, 21 May 1949, Page 5

WEST REJECTS MOSCOW MOVE ON GREEK ISSUE

LONDON, May 20 (Rec. 10 a.m.) — An informal exchange of views on the situation in Greece has taken place in New York between M. Gromyko, Deputy Soviet Foreign Minister, Mr Hector McNeil, British Minister of State, and Mr Dean Rusk, assistant United States Secretary of State. The views of the three Governments have been published. The Tass Agency in reporting the meeting, said that Mr Gromyko put forward as the best solution the measures suggested in the recent declaration made by the guerrilla leaders —“the provisional Greek Democratic Government.” The Soviet did not object to formal three-power discussions on Greece. Peace Call Suggested

Mr Gromyko said the Soviet view was that‘the Powers should issue a peace call, a general amnesty should be declared and, a general election held. Russia would want to have observers at any such election. Mr Gromyko also suggested foreign aid to Greece should cease. The British and American representatives promised to convey Mr Gromyko’s statement to their Governments. The British Foreign Office stated today that Mr McNeil told Mr Gromyko that there could be no negotiations on a matter of vital domestic interest in Greece behind the Greek Government’s back. Mr McNeil pointed out to Mr Gromyko that hostilities in Greece would soon cease if the northern neighbours of Greece stopped giving aid and shelter to the rebels. British Attitude The British Foreign Office statement said: “The existence of this aid has been amply established by successive reports of the United Nations Special Commission on the Balkans. Mr McNeil also pointed out to Mr Gromyko that His Majesty’s Government would not wish to arrogate to themselves the powers .that were completely resident in the Greek Government and said that he was sure that this was also true of the United States Government and the Soviet Government.” The statement said that Mr McNeil pointed out that representatives of the rebels could not in any way be regarded as a government. In Washington the State Department issued a lengthy statement on the United States attitude to the situation in Greece. The statement said the United States had told Russia that until the Communist satellite States stopped aiding the Greek guerrillas the United States would not relax assistance to non-Communist Greece. The statement disclosed that, the State Department had rejected the Soviet efforts to get the Greek situation out of the United Nations’ hands and into the hands of the great Powers for what amounted to a compromise settlement. Bona Fide Effort Wanted The statement continued: “We would, however, welcome a bona fide effort by the Soviet to remove the threat to the peace and security of the Greek people and hope that Russia will use its influence in full support of the United Nations in seeking a settlement.” The statement said that United States military assistance to Greece became necessary because of the direct threat to the independence and integrity of Greece and was in direct response to the situation created by the illegal intervention of Greece’s northern neighbours. A report from Athens says a full meeting of the Greek Cabinet has been called to consider the statements on Greece.