ELECTIONS FOR GREECE

Grey River Argus, 21 September 1945, Page 5

ELECTIONS FOR GREECE

Must Precede Referendum

WESTERN ALLIES’ VIEW LONDON, Sept. 19. The British, American and French Governments issued a joint statement following the conversation with Regent. Damaskinos during his visit to London. ■ . Regent Damaskinos arrived in Paris by air from London. A member of his suite said the Regent was extremely satisfied with his visit to London The decisions announced in the joint British, American and French communique were the direct outcome of his talks. They meant, in effect, that the elections would be held before the plebiscite, which would not be held until the conditions were more normal. This put the constitutional issue aside for the present and gave the Regent an opportunity of going ahead with the more urgent tasks of recovery. Following are the demands announced by the three Western Allied Powers: — “The British, American and French Governments have agreed to send observers to Greece for the elections. The three Governments told the firm opinion that the elections for a revisionary assembly should be held as soon as possible, and hope that it will be possible to arrange them before the end of 1945. Thus, a Government would be formed which would be based on the wishes of the people and Parliament. The formation of such a Government would facilitate the restoration of the conditions for stable tranquility in Greece. Only when these conditions are in due course firmly established will it become possible to hold a free, genuine plebiscite to decide on the future regime of Greece. The three Governments, in full agreement, hope to recommend that all parties in Greece, with the interests of their country before them, will collaborate sincerely and willingly in the execution of its programme, which, in their judgment, represents the best hope for orderly and democratic development.” GREEK ANXIETY ATHENS, Sept. 19 Mr. Molotov’s declarations concerning Greece and reports that his objections prevented’ an invitation being sent to Greece to attend the Foreign Minister’s conference are causing anxiety here. The feeling of disillusionment is aggravated by the fact that t,he principles of the United Nations Charter may be discarded also by Soviet territorial claims to the Dodecanese whose Greek character is claimed to be universally recognised. U.S.A. EXPORTS TO GREECE. ATHENS, September 18. The American import and export bank opened 250,000,000 dollars credit for Greece. It is understood that credit was granted in kind, repayable at 2j! per cent, interest, in 30 years. ARMENIA TERRITORY SOCIALISTS”SEEK ITS TRANSFER TO SOVIET LONDON, Sept. 1S The Armenian Socialist Party has forwarded a memorandum to the Council of Foreign Ministers requesting intervention to settle the Armenian problem and urging that Turkey should be 1 called on to renounce in favour of Soviet Armenia all rights and titles over the territories assigned to Armenia by President Wilson. PERSIAN LEFT WING LONDON, Sept. 19 A Reuter correspondent at Teheran states that five of the leaders of the Tudet Persian Left Wing Party have been arrested. The party headquarters have been closed. This is because of alleged contravention of martial law by holding ap unauthorised meeting. The Military Governor issued a communique ordering strict compliance had occurred in front of disturbances had iccurred in front of the Party buildings. They were occupied by Persian gendarmes and troops. Three years after the murder of the British Vice-Consul, Mr. R. C. Harris, a medical missionary, Dr. Griffiths, and his young son, the Persian authorities have arrested a number of brigands and charged them with the murders. The brigands, who were hiding in the mountains, have been brought to Te-

heran for trial.

RULE OF HUNGARY "LONDON, Sept. 19 The Soviet Paris News Agency stated; “The Hungarian Provisional Assembly passed a new electoral law providing universal secret suffrage for all Hungarians over 20. Hungarians, who were active in the fight against Fascism, may vote at 18. The new law is considered the most democratic in Hungarian history.” JEWISH HOLD ON PALESTINE JERUSALEM, Sept. 19 The Jewish National Fund at a conference on Mount Scopus fixed £5,000,000 as world Jewry’s contribution towards the purchase of land for settlement in Palestine. The fund now holds 200,000 acres in Palestine. Last year’s collection totalled £2,000,000, 60 per cent, of which came from America.