COURSE OF THE CRISIS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21581, 7 December 1944, Page 6

COURSE OF THE CRISIS

MR CHURCHILL’S REVIEW LONDON, Dec. 5. ■‘Giving the House oi Commons an account of the troubles in Atnens, Mr. Churchill announced that more Biitish troops- were on the way to Greece. -‘•Mr. Churchill said: "So far as has been ascertained, the facts are as follows:—The Greek organisation called E.AdYL had announced its intention to hold'-a demonstration on Sunday. The Greek Government at first authorised this;.but withdrew its permission when the E.A.M. called for a general strike tod take place on Saturday. The striker in tact came into force early ■ on Sunday. Later in the rnorning the E.A.M. demonstration formed up and-moved to the principal square in Athens,- in £pite oi the Government ban. „ “On the evidence so far available, 1 aril'not' prepared to say who started the firing winch tinm took place. The pdllce' suffered one fatal casualty, and ha'd three men wounded. The-latest authentic reports give the demonstrators' casualties at II killed and 60 wounded. The demonstration continued cturmg the afternoon, but there was no further shooting, and by 4.30 pan. the crowd iiact dispersed ana tranquility was restored. . “Force To Prevent Bloodshed” .'VTtepiymg to on interruption, Mr. Churcirih said: “aomoiiuies it is necessary to use force to prevent greater .Dldddsned. If the oarnage of four 'years'of war and enemy occupation; is t®'he repaired, ana if the Greek life -.'inti: economy are to be re-built, inter* . 4'al’ stability must be maintained, and '■df.generai election held under fair • SijMitions. The authority of the con* "■ {ftroftiohal Greek Government must be Accepted and enforced throughout the The armed forces must be /de’jigridcnt on the Greek Government. f can have a sure foun'ldafibh' so long as there are private : 'piffles' owing allegiance to any group, dr ideology, instead of to the jffthwrand hation. ' these facts should be ail, the Left Wing and ComMinisters resigned from the at this dangerous crisis vU&ther than implement the measures 3'itti*7iiVHkh they already had agreed for • :iw«7&piacemcnt of the E.A.M. police pipe! guerrillas by the regular national ‘."services. In addition, the E.A.M. lead*. called a general strike, which for T’the.: time being, is preventing food £/Mrieh we and the Americans are pro* ,>s#Hpe 'from reaching the mouths of f wiicm we are trying td our belief that in restoring lavf ‘vi»P3hprder, the Government lias -the of an overwhelming majority Greek people. Their harping receive relief for immediate d''Mv&tHerri a chance of earning a live! : vjMwdi. In. both of these ways VA Wy© 3 td help them, and are working * MnfihUally with experts, financial otherwise, to assist in every posd jfißli: way.” X- ■ “ ~