GREEK CABINET SWORN IN

Southland Times, Issue 25564, 6 January 1945, Page 5

GREEK CABINET SWORN IN

Policy Aims Of New Government (Rec. 10.30 p.m.) LONDON, January 5. The new Greek Cabinet was sworn in before the Regent, Archbishop Damaskinos, this afternoon, says the Athens correspondent of Reuter’s. The new Prime Minister, General Nicholas Plastiras, stated that the aims of his Government were: — (1) To restore the meaning of the State by imposing legal order. (2) To recall all public servants to a full sense of duty. (3) To punish all who collaborated in crimes during the German occupation. (4) To meet the urgent needs of the population for* food, shelter and communications. (5) To stabilize currency and come to the help of the working classes. General Plastiras added that he hoped he would have the help of the great Allies in the accomplishment of his tasks. The former Prime Minister, M. Georges Papandreou, and the Liberal and Progressive Party leaders, M. Sefoulis and M. Kafandaris, announced their support for the Government. General Plastiras, in an interview with the British United Press in Athens, said he would not accept EAM representatives into his Cabinet until after a general election. He added that there could be no compromise with ELAS after the atrocities they had committed. “MODERATE LEFT WING” The general impression in official circles in London on the composition of the new Greek Cabinet is that it is based on the personal discretion of Archbishop Damaskinos and General Plastiras, rather than on any strong party affiliations, says the diplomatic correspondent of Reuter’s. The political complexion of the Cabinet may be fairly described as moderate Left Wing, neither extremist factor—Communist or Monarchist—being included. One noteworthy fact is that all members of the new administration are Republicans, which should at least go far to remove EAM and ELAS suspicions of Monarchist intrigues. The Athens correspondent of The Times says that the selection of General Plastiras to head the new Government will be received with mixed feelings. A man with his record was obviously not the ideal choice, because, even though a dictator, unlike a leopard, may change his spots, the present situation was essentially brought about by fear of some kind of dictatorship. BRITISH TERMS The Athens correspondent of the Associated Press says the Government issued a statement on Thursday night that ELAS must accept LieutenantGeneral R. M. Scobie’s terms before negotiations can be begun. M. Sifianopoulos issued a statement that it was essential that Lieutenant-General Scobie’s terms to ELAS should be accepted, which would be the best proof and token of ELAS intentions towards the coming understanding. He added that the Government intended to discover and severely punish the ringleaders in the present fighting, but there would be no mass punishment. The intention was to restore general confidence. British forces have cleared Omonia Square in Athens, which ELAS has held since the beginning of the fighting, says Reuter’s correspondent. Neighbouring areas 'have also been cleared. ELAS mortar bombs which landed in Constitution Square killed two British officers and seven civilians. ATHENS IN MESS After a tour of the city, the correspondent stated that the fighting had left great material damage in its wake. Houses wrecked by shells or blown up by dynamite had spilled their rubble into the evil-smelling streets. Five weeks’ garbage lies rotting in the open streets. Streams of water from burst mains bubble downhill across the broken streets and tank-crushed pavements. A gaping hole outside the Telephone Exchange indicates where a British tank, hit a German mine. Shell holes around doors and windows show where snipers’ nests have been wiped out. The civilians hunt for wood and fuel in the ruined houses and queue up patiently in the rain for the hot food supplied by the British troops. Tlie strength of the newly-re-cruited National Guard, which is dressed in civilian clothes, but issued with bandoliers of ammunition, has been raised to 30 battalions, each consisting of 500 men and 30 officers.