Unfavourable Replies To Soviet Plan For Greece

Northern Advocate, 21 May 1949, Page 5

Unfavourable Replies To Soviet Plan For Greece

LONDON, Fri. (nopn). —An informal exchange of-views on the situation in Greece has taken place in New York between M. Gromyko, deputy Soviet Foreign Minister, Mr Hector McNeil, British Minister of State, and Mr Dean Rusk, assistant United States Secretary of State. The views of the three Governments have been published. Tass, in reporting the meeting, said M. Gromyko put forward, as the best solution, the measures suggested in the recent declaration made by guerilla leaders—a “provisional Greek democratic Government.”

The Soviet did not object to formal three-power discussions on Greece. M. Gromyko said the Soviet view was that the powers should issue a peace call, a general amnesty should be declared and a general election held.

The statement continued: ‘We would, however, welcome a bona fide effort by the Soviet to remove the threat to the peace and security of the Greek people, and hope that Russia will use its infl lence in full support of the United Nations in seeking a settlement." The statement said United States military assistance to Greece became necessary because of a direct threat to the independence and integrity of Greece, and was in direct response to a sittrtion created by the illegal intervention of Greece's northern neighbours.

Russia would want to have observers I at any such election. M. Gromyko also suggested that foreign aid to Greece should cease. \ The British and American representatives promised to convey M. Gromyko’s statement to their Governments.

The British Foreign Office stated today that Mr McNeil had told M. Gromyko that there could be no negotiations on a matter Of vital domestic interest to Greece behind the Greek Government’s back. Mr McNeil pointed out to M. GromykO that hostilities in Greece would soon cease if the northern neighbours of Greece stopped giving aid and shelter to the rebels. IN HANDS OF GOVERNMENT A Foreign Office statement said: “The existence of this aid has been amply established by successive reports on the United Nations special commission on the Balkans.’’ Mr McNeil also pointed out to M. Gromyko that His Majesty’s Government would not wish to arrogate to themselves powers that were completely resident in the Greek Government, and said that he was sure that this was also true of the United States Government and the Soviet Government.” The statement said Mr McNeil pointed out that representatives of the rebels could not. in my way. be regarded as a Government. OUT OF UNO HANDS

A report from Athens says a full meeting of the Greek Cabinet has been called to consider the statements on Greece.

Archbishop Damaskinos of Greece died today in his country home near Athens.

He was Regent of Greece from the liberation until the return of King George.

In Washington the State Department issued a lengthy statement on the United States’ attitude to the situation in Greece. The state, lent said the United States had told Russia that, until Communist satellite states stopped aiding Greek guerillab, the United States would not relax assistance to non-Communist Greece. * The statement disclosed that the State Department had rejected Soviet efforts to get the Greek situation out of the United Nations hands into the hands of the Great Powers for what amounted to a composites settlemani.