POLICY IN GREECE

Timaru Herald, Volume CLVI, Issue 23083, 23 December 1944, Page 5

POLICY IN GREECE

Attack And Defence Debate In The House Of Lords Action For Country’s Good By Telegraph—N.Z. Press Assn.—Copyright LONDON, December 21. “The British Government is not against a Regency in Greece but wants to make certain that it is a practicable proposition,’’ said Lord Cranborne, replying for the Government in the debate in the House of Lords, which was initiated by Lord Faringdon moving a resolution regretting “the policy of his Majesty’s Government in Greece which has had the shameful result of military action against our Greek allies.”

Lord Cranborne characterised the motion as “ill-judged, ill-timed and illdrafted.” . . . .. „ Lord Faringdon criticised the action of the King of Greece in regard to the Regency, and suggested that the solution of the prooiem was recognition of the Resistance Movement as effective and definite by Lieutenant-Gen-eral R. M. Scobie. He expressed a hope that General Scobie would be instructed to withdraw his terms to the Resistance forces. Viscount Samuel, on behalf of the Liberals, asked was it fair to throw all the blame on the shoulders of the British Government. The British Army entered Greece only to help the Greeks. The British Government would be justified in the present situation in withdrawing altogether, but there had been long friendship with the Greek people and it would not be consistent with cur duty to allow the Greek nation to fall into anarchy. “There is no reason why Britain should be called upon to bear this burden alone. No doubt it would b* totter if this Government could settle the question without bringing other Powers in, but if our present efforts fail we cannot contemplate the alternative of a prolonged campaign. If an alternative has to be considered we may be compelled to have some recourse to inter-AUied action.”

Lord cranborne: we are interested to see that the country is put on an even keel so that relief can be qarried through, and also interested that the solution should not be imposed by force of arms supplied by us. It is no concern of ours whether the Greek people have a government of the Right

or of the Left. That is for the Greek people themselves, and it is perfectly open to ELAS, if they think they represent the views of the Greek people, to test their opinion at the ballot box. It is a concern of ours to see that power should not be seized by militant minorities. We have no desire to interfere in the internal affairs of Greece. We could have left her to “stew in her own juice.” It would have been the easier policy, but it would have meant chaos and misery for the common people. The other course was to go in and drive the Germans out, maintain law and order and relieve the necessities of the population. There can be no doubt which alternative was the right policy. I am glad it has not been suggested that British troops should clear out of Greece at once. We are very ready that our troops should leave Greece as soon as conditions allow. If they leave now there will be a general massacre and the utter destruction of everything. One-third of Athens Cleared There was no indication up to noon to-day that Lieut.-General R. M. Scobie had acted on his threat to hammer ELAS guns if they did not cease firing at 9 a.m. to-day. General Scobie’s threat resulted in many civilians leaving areas in Athens where the guns are situated. Reuter’s Athens correspondent says it is authoritatively stated that the British have cleared approximately one-third of Athens. The majority of Elasites in Athens are now holding the northern sector of the city. Five thousand Elasites are believed to be casualties or prisoners. The correspondent of the British United Press reports that the British have cleared new areas of central and south-western Athens, thus allowing the distribution of food to go on at full pressure for the first time since hostilities began. British 25-pounders to-day silenced a battery of ELAS guns which were holding up the unloading of ships at Piraeus. The correspondent of the Associated Press says it is reliably reported that members of EDES checked infiltrations of partisans across the northern frontier of Greece to join Elasites massing in northern and north-east Epirus. It is confirmed that small numbers of Bulgarians entered Eastern Macedonia. Elasites are reported to have made an unprovoked attack on supporters of General Zervas in the frontier zone, but there was no major battle. A correspondent in Athens earlier reported that although a third of the city had been cleared by the British forces, it was estimated that there were still 20,000 ELAS guerrillas in and around the capital. About 5000 guerrillas have been killed since the start of the revolt. Food is being distributed to the civilian population of Athens to-day, and the situation is described as less tense. About 6500 Greeks have joined the new National Guard recruited by the Government.

Rocket-firing Beaufighters blasted ELAS positions in the Averoff political prison. Paratroopers and tanks attacked ELAS 75-millimetre gun sites beyond Omonia Square. The fighting otherwise has died down, the situation being quieter than since the opening of the clash, says the Athens correspondent of the British United Press. Allied authorities continued the distribution of food, while British troops cleared street after street practically without opposition. Elasites in some parts of Athens are reported to : e using hand microphones calling on their supporters to continue resistance for a little longer as a solution is being reached This report suggests that the Elasites are tiring of the struggle. Meanwhile 6500 Greeks have now joined the national guard in Athens, the British clothing and feeding them. Essential First Step The general strike at Athens continues, at least as far as the public utilities are concerned, and food is becoming scarcer, says the Athens correspondent of “The Times.” Extortionate prices are being asked for the available food. Athens is growing dirtier, more scarred and infinitely desolate. It is clear as the dreary days go by that the fight has developed into a struggle between the Right and the Left with the Government—headed by a man who was formerly known as a Left Wing Liberal and containing four members of his Social Democratic Party—hardening into s group of embittered Conservatives Everyone recognises that the essential first step in bringing peace to Greece is the appointment of a Regent and, through him, the formation of a new all party Government. The individaul parties constituting the Government are busily blocking the issue and some of them are persuading a reluctant monarch to stand firm. There has been no contact between the Papandreou Cabinet and EAM. Members of the Cabinet individually seem to be trying to persuade the British military forces, already engaged in pulling their chestnuts from the fire, to redouble their efforts to exterminate the members of ELAS. Such

Greeks say it would be so much better if. in the execution of the unpalatable task, death and ruination or just ordinary misery is brought upon the mass of ordinary Left Wing Greeks. Together ELAS forces and the British are inflicting far greater damage on Athens than the Germans. The British attitude, probably dictated from London, still seems to be that, until British strength is sufficiently established, it would be useless to negotiate a political settlement, because there would be nothing to guarantee its fulfilment. Theoretically that argument is sound, but the majority would prefer to throw theory to the winds and do something positive to end this horrible war. in which British and Greek blood is still being spilt