GREEK TERRORISM

New Zealand Herald, Volume 82, Issue 25105, 19 January 1945, Page 5

GREEK TERRORISM

CHURCHILL'S ATTITUDE DEFENCE BY WRITER (Special Correspondent) LONDON, Jan. 17 Blunt comment on the situation in Greece is published in the Daily Mail from its political correspondent now in the Eastern Mediterranean area. A lot of people, the correspondent says, are calling on the late William Ewart Gladstone and Lord Byron to second their vote of no-confidence in the Government. "1 have not the slightest doubt," he proceeds, "that both of these gentlemen would have regarded the E.L.A.S. extremists with the deepest repugnance and hostility. Furthermore, in the faroff days when the British public possessed a Gladstouian conscience it managed to inform itself more or less properly of the exact circumstances about which it was waxing so indignant. "Thoughtless jumping to conclusions is a recent phenomenon. The armistice in Greece represents a great improvement in the situation, but it is perfectly proper for .Mr Churchill to point out that there can be no real peace while j thp barbarous custom continues of takI ing and retaining hostages.

Fate of Hostages "How can there be all this talk of Gladstone and 'fair play for the Greeks' in England while so-called defenders of Greek liberty refuse to protest against such atrocities? The number of men, women and children, innocent of any civil or political crime, who have already been taken off in the bills in this way is almost exactly equivalent, by ironical chance, to the number of the great crowd which thronged Trafalgar Square a month or so ago in order to scream indignant praise of the E.L.A.S. and all its works. There have been over 15,000 unfortunates —and who knows what has been their fate? It is indeed a tragic reflection on the Greek Communists t?hat there are very few Greeks who believe that there is much hope of seeing those hostages alive again. "Nevertheless, one wonders what has hnppened to many British people that they have so lost their traditional sense of proportion and justice that they readily mistake any old Balkan gangsterism for the new democracy. Indeed, the more facts about Greece come to light the more one sympathises with the strong, angry language used by the Prime Minister. Democracy in Balkans "Mr Churchill has shocked many people because he is sufficiently outspoken to call a terrorist a terrorist instead of giving him the currently euphemistic title of radical democrat or some such name. By the same token, label-mongers have doubtless dubbed General Plastiras a reactionary dictator instead of recognising that he is a fearless, independent man. anxious only to restore peace to his country, and that he is the only personality capable of securing effective unity." The correspondent continues: "There seem to be at least two major shocks awaiting anyone arriving upon the Mediterranean scene from England. The first is for the person who really believes that democracy must mean English democracy and that every Balkan nation should live up to that standard. That is the person who seems to find it reasonable to ask that within a week of liberation a people should acquire experience which in England has only been slowly and painfully acquired over several hundred years and even achieve something which we ourselves have not yet been able to manage, namely, a written constitution. Spheres of Influence "The second great shock is that the division of Europe into spheres of influence is taken absolutely for granted. It has its disadvantages, but it is grudgingly accepted. having refrained from interfering in Greece, now expects us to leave Yugoslavia to her except for the formality of tying up a few loose ends, such as doing our share in persuading King Peter to accept the loss of his throne like a little gentleman. The Russian sphere of influence, by all accounts, is most efficiently run but just what form that efficiency takes it is not possible to say since the Russians do not believe in giving the same facility for free news gathering and comment which we have extended to their correspondents. "Wo have got spheres of influence whether we like them or not. Perhaps we dan get rid of them. So much the better, but it really is too absurd for anybody to suggest that our Government is pursuing a reactionary or undemocratic policy in Europe. On the contrary, it is trying desperately hard to do a little salesmanship for an article called 'Democracy' (the only genuine brand with freedom attached)." SALONIKA OCCUPIED E.L.A.S. EVACUATES PORTS LONDON, Jan. 17 Britishtroops today occupied Salonika without incident, says a message from Athens. E.L.A.S. forces continue to withdraw according to the truce terms. The time limit for the withdrawal of the E.L.A.S. beyond 19 miles radius of the town expired at one minute past midnight. It is the first time for six weeks that fhe British have been able to move freely around Salonika. Greek regulars occupied the ports of Patras and Volo.s, which were evacuated by the ' E.L.A.S.