“TRAGIC ERRORS"

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21582, 8 December 1944, Page 5

“TRAGIC ERRORS"

GREEK IMBROGLIO BRITAUM’sTI ABILITY CRITICISM"""IN LONDON (9 a.m.) LONDON, Dec. 6. Under the heading “Tragedy of Errors,” the London Times, in an editorial says: “The disagreeable truth revealed by tne news oi tne past three days from Athens is that British armed forces, invoxed originally in the desire to avoid bloodsned, lias become involved in a Greek civil war.” Alter staving mat the E.Aavl. resignations from the Greek Government were evidently prompted by a belief that the Government, intended to disband tne Leftist anneu forces, while keeping in being those associated with u.e rugut, tiie lanes goes on: "these events unhappily coincided with the issue of General ocooie's proclamation undertaking to give military support to M. Rapandreous Government —an undertaking which was justifiable so lung as the Greek Government ni fact was representative ot a Coalition, but which, when the Coalition broke up, encouraged tne most uaHuppy but widespread impression tnat tne British government and the British Army were preparing to support IVI. Papandreou against his former partners in the Coalition. No British Action Against Police “This impression was not removed by the failure of the British forces to intervene at the time of the Greek police action against the demonstrators on Sunday, though British officers were known to have expressed disapproval of that action. “Wliac prompted General Scobie, with the endorsement of the British Government, to issue last week a proclamation which could be read as a threat to 'support M. Papandreou at ail costs agqinst nis rivals on the Left? What exactly was the nature of the decision which caused the E.A.M. Ministers to resign? Why, after M. Papandreou’s resignation, was a veto imposed on all attempts to find an alternative Government? Were any steps taken to consult the other principal Powers of the United Nations?. “Answers doubtless will be forthcoming in the House of Commons, but it is not too soon to say that, great as are the inherent difficulties of tne situation, any British Government which claimed to insist, at a time when popuiar elections were admittedly _ impossible, on this or that individual group as being alone qualified to conduct the Government of a friendly nation, would accept a grave responsibility which accords ill with British tradition. Hazardous Political Strategy “It would be hazardous in the extreme to argue that there is a greater Allied interest in unhoiding M. Papandreou’s Government than any other of the numerous groups and parties in Greek politics.” Remarking that Britain’s good name throughout Europe may be in ultimate jeopardy, the Times adds: _ “If M. Papandreou is maintained in power by the ban of a foreign Government on any alternative, his moral authority in Greece can hardly survive; and British troops will be used and British lives sacrificed fighting against Greeks on behalf of a Government which exists only in virtue of military force. Neither Greece nor Britain can afford such an issue from this tragic struggle. “Grievous errors have been committed. It is time, before it is too late, to find a way out of the disastrous predicament whose consequences will be felt quickly l n neighbouring countries and beyond.”