GREEK ELECTIONS

Grey River Argus, 24 August 1945, Page 5

GREEK ELECTIONS

Soviet Objection V TO ANGLO-AMERICAN OBSERVERS. (Rec. 5.5) MOSCOW, August 22. “Izvestia,” criticises the BritishAmerican decision to send observers to watch the situation in Greece. The paper said: The decision is characterised by a spreading of terror by reactionaries, monarchists and Fascists, which excludes the possibility of a free expression of the people’s will./ The paper said: The most important task for the Allies is to provide conditions for really democratic elections. When these are provided, there will be no necessity. for observers. “Izvestia” declared: Russia had turned down the proposal to send observers to Greece, because such would seem incompatible with Greek independence and sovereignty. No matter what form the so-called observation takes, it will .lead to.the establishment of control’ over internal policy, which should not be subjected to foreign influence. It is a form of interference which cannot strengthen democracy, but is capable of undermining democracy. ROUMANIAN REQUEST. A MORE REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT WANTED. (Rec. 8.40). NEW YORK, August 22.' Mr J. F. Byrnes, United States Secretary of State, at a press conference, disclosed that Britain, America and Russia are considering a request from Roumania for aid in the formation of a more representative Government. The first official reaction to this news in Washington was that the proposal envisaged an early election. It was, however, thought that Russia, following on her policy regarding Greece, would decline Roumania s request.

BULGARIA AND SOVIET PLIGHT OF AUSTRIANS. LONDON, Aug. 22. Soviet relations with Bulgaria have been advanced another step by the inter-change of Ministers. Mr Stephen Kirsanov has been appointed to represent Russia in Sofia, and Professor Dmitry Mikhalchev, a leading scientist, has been named as Bulgarian Minister to Moscow. ’ - The Vienna correspondent of the Exchange Telegraph Agency stated: In Austria there are more than halt a milliop displaced persons in the central States, who are receiving no food rations, so they are compelled to rob and murder in order to exist. Austrian peasants appealed to the Austrian Government for protection, but the police force is inadequate. The Government asked the Russian military authorities to intervene, but they have so far not taken action. An outbreak of lawlessness among displaced persons in north-east Austria menaces the security of the civilian population and military personnel travelling to and from Czechoslovakia. Austrians established a patrol of 10 to 12 to man border areas but this is inadequate, because lawlessness spreads over a wide area. Robber hands, well armed, frequently hold up supply vehicles travelling between Prague and Vienna. Numerous cases of rape are reported. At the U.N.R.R.A. Council meeting in London it was decided that Austria be included in the programme of relief. The Chinese delegate supported this. The president, Mr Tehmann said the extension of relief would not mean that Austria would be helped immediately. The Yugoslav Goverjjment has asked the Allies to hand over Haj Amin EljHusseini, former Grand Mufti of Jerusalem, as a war criminal. He visited Bosnia during the German occupation and allegedly organised' a “Hanji” S.S. Division, consisting o'f Bosnian Moslems. They are accused of handing over to Germans a number of British and American airmen forced down in the Bosnian forests. YUGOSLAV OBJECTION TO U.N.R.R.A. AID FOR ITALY LONDON, Aug. 22. The U.N.R.R.A. Council at to-day’s plenary meeting decided that Italy and Austria be included in the programme of relief and rehabilitation. The resolution to aid Italy and Austria was carried by 29 votes to Yugoslavia’s one. South Africa refrained from voting. The United States proposed the inclusion of Italy on the grounds that Italy, being the first Axis Power to break with Hitler, materially contributed to Germany’s defeat and later joined the Allies against Japan. She was making good progress to-

ward the re-establishment of a democratic government. The Yugoslav delegate protested against Italy being placed on an equal footing with countries which fought against Nazism throughout the war. He said Italians during 30 months’ occupation of Yugoslavia pillaged the country,doing damage amounting to many millions. The time had not arrived for Yugoslavian relations to become normal. Italy had not given sufficient evidence that she had definitely broken with Fascism. The British delegate, Mr J. B. Bynd, said that while the world appreciated Yugoslav sufferings, U.N.R.R.A.’s purpose was not to reward or punish, but to avoid a catastrophe. The Chinese delegate, supporting the inclusion of former enemy countries in the, programme, said that if the administration at any time discussed extending the scope to the Japanese people, he personally, would support it. Mi’ Lehmann, the president, explained that, the extension of relief to Italy and Austria would not mean that those countries would be helped immediately. After the present military aid ceased, organisations must be set up and supplies procured and the' administration must know what funds were available.