EEY OF FASCISM

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21579, 5 December 1944, Page 3

EEY OF FASCISM

GREECE ’ b 0\ id i 1 4 El PAPANDREGU’S CLAIM - H 7 "E.A.M. ’INTRANSIGENTS” ‘9 a.m.) LONDON, Dec. 4. M. Papandreou is believed to be determined to continue as Prime Minister of Greece, says Reuter’s Athens correspondent, lie is still conferring to fill the six Ministerial vacancies caused bv Left Wing resignations.

M. Papandreou, in a broadcast to the nation, recounted all the measures taken to co-operate with the extreme Left and to preserve national unity. He added: “Suddenly a. crisis arose. The E.A.M. militia, on December 1, should have handed over authority to the new National Guard. We remained steadfast in our efforts to maintain unity.and avoid civil war. To-day our conscience i.s clear. All responsibility rests on the leaders of the extreme Left. The intransigent elements have again prevailed. It seems that they accepted the existence of a Government of national unity, but on the condition thai material force remained in their hands.”

M, Papandreou said that the intransigents rose in protest when the time came for their disbanding. "By armed demonstrations, a general strike, and the re-establishment of their central committee, they are leading the country into civil war. They are falsely accusing the Government of preparing for Fascism, threatening the liberties of the people, and turning to re-action. -Cabinet lias unanimously approved a law for the reorganisation of our army,:so when the army is thus being, reorganised, how can we be leading to Fascism? We remain the deadly enemies of Fascism, and the standard-bearers of freedom and social justice.’ 7 The Prime Minister appealed to the young Greeks to refrain from slabbing their own country through the heart. He warned them that Greece “could not survive blows from her children.”

A proclamation issued by the Allied G.O.C. in Greece, General Scobie. has announced that martial law is-in force in Athens and the Piraeus.