NEW HOPE OF SOLUTION

Southland Times, Issue 25549, 18 December 1944, Page 5

NEW HOPE OF SOLUTION

REGENT MAY BE APPOINTED FIGHTING IN ATHENS CONTINUES (Rec. 8.40 p.m.) LONDON, Dec. 16. Several important developments in the Greek situation, reported tonight, have brought new hope of a solution, states Reuter’s Athens correspondent. Archbishop Damaskinos, Metropolitan of Athens and Archbishop of Greece, whom all factions respect for his stand during the German occupation, announced that he had been approached and would become a Regent. Fighting in Athens continued throughout the day, but a stage in the negotiations has been reached. The Central Committee of ELAS, replying to Lieutenant-General Scobie’s terms, suggested: (1) The formation of a Government of national unity. (2) The temporary withdrawal of the Greek Mountain Brigade and the Sacred Brigade from the Athens and Piraeus area. (3) The disarmament of the gendarmerie. (4) No further employment of British forces in the internal . affairs of Greece and no use of British influence in the formation, as speedily as possible, of a Government of national unity. This ELAS reply has agreed temporarily to the withdrawal of ELAS forces from Athens and Piraeus. Lieutenant-General Scobie, replying to this memorandum, welcomed the suggested withdrawal of the ELAS forces from attack, but he pointed out that the memorandum did not men- i tion his stipulation that all ELAS supporters in Athens and Piraeus should cease resistance and hand in their arms. He would insist on a satisfactory fulfilment of this condition, after which he would report immediately to FieldMarshal Alexander. Lieutenant-General Scobie reiterated that one of the first steps necessary .to end the turmoil must be the disbandment of all irregular forces, whatever their political creed, with a view to the reconstitution of regular national forces. GOVERNMENT BLAMED The text of the telegram LieutenantGeneral R. M. Scobie received from M. Serafis on December 12 was issued officially today. M. Serafis warned Lieu-tenant-General Scobie that the struggle in Greece would continue wherever necessary until “you realize your responsibility to history, reconsider your decision and cease to attack us.” M. Serafis blamed the Greek Government’s employment of collaborators for the conditions, bordering on anarchy, which were then prevailing throughout Athens. He claimed that the Greek forces included officers who were known to be Fascists, and that the Greek Government had taken Fascist military formations into the Greek Army, thereby causing EAM Ministers to resign from the Government. “The Government has not attempted to take action against the collaborators, possibly because some members of the Government themselves collaborated with the Quislings under the Germans and helped to create security battalions,” he said. “The Greeks are now fighting for freedom and independence and are not anarchists, but free people. The present Government has not the confidence of the nation. It was appointed by the king who should have been tried for his actions. You are taking the place of the Germans and are overlooking the services and sacrifices of this nation.” The message requested the formation of a genuine national Government. REPLY TO M. SERAFIS Lieutenant-General Scobie, replying to M. Serafis, said that the disarming of all armed civilians had been strictly enforced, irrespective of their parties, and including the Royalists. “We continue to hold members of the security battalions as prisoners of the Greek State,” he said. “The National Guard was called up in the age group and armed according to a Government decree. All Ministers, including EAM Ministers, approved of the officers appointed to these battalions. All troops under my command are ordered to do everything possible to avoid any action which might, provoke an incident, but they were told to defend themselves if attacked. M. Serafis, at Caserta on September 16, agreed to my order for the complete evacuation of Attica, but contrary to his given word, armed ELAS remained in Athens.”