GREATER GREECE WANTED

Southland Times, Issue 25514, 7 November 1944, Page 5

GREATER GREECE WANTED

POPULAR AGITATION IN BALKANS (Rec. 9.5 p.m.) LONDON, November 6. The Prime Minister of Greece, M. Papandreou, in his first interview after his return to Athens told the Athens correspondent of The Times that Greece had “utter faith and confidence in Britain for the full satisfaction of national claims and economic reconstruction.” Demands for. popular justice would be meat by courts already being constituted. M. Papandreou thought that continual agitation was the only way the people had of letting off steam and arose because the people had nothing to do. He expressed the opinion that the demonstrations would cease when the people found work. Greece’s postwar demands are now being given vocal expression in popular cries for a greater Greece. M. Papandreou would not specify the exact limits of any new borders but the general opinion is that they should include the coastal strip of Thrace also the Vardar and Struma passes and part of northern Epirus. Popular demands go further, including a good part of Bulgaria which is regarded as an eternal danger spot. 1

M. Papandreou, dealing with immediate problems, said he hoped to have incorporated the partisan armies in the regular army by December. There was no further

need for them for the liberation of

Greek soil. DEMONSTRATION IN ATHENS

Political Tension Increases

(Rec. 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, November 5.

About 800 members of EAM car-’ ried the bodies of three comrades at the head of a procession through the main streets of Athens. In front of the Presidency they shouted that their comrades had been killed by right- • wing organizations and demanded Government action.

Reporting this, the Athens correspondent of The Times adds that there is an obvious increase in political tension in the past two days. The right-wing parties who so far have taken no part in the demonstrations may emerge into the open. The Communist leader, M. Santos, called on M. Papandreou, the Prime Minister, demanding the dissolution of the “nationalist” organization.

M. Papandreou replied asking M. Santos to stop the left-wing demonstrations.

ELAS, outside Athens and particularly in Salonika, is believed to be assuming increasing control. They took similar action in Athens, but handed over control on the arrival of the Greek Government.