CONDITIONS IN GREECE

Timaru Herald, Volume CLVIII, Issue 23375, 5 December 1945, Page 5

CONDITIONS IN GREECE

Reactionaries In Key Posts Claim By Delegation By Telegraph—NZ. Press Assn.—Copyright (7.30 p.m.) LONDON, Dec. 3. Ihe Greek BAiu cqanLmi delegation in London ueclareu tnai the aey posts of the ureeK Judiciary, i'oiice and Armed Forces are lieul by Reactionary eientpius. They alleged Dial liruish authorities had proposals by me soiouhs Government for tne replacement of certain ot those elements wriicii were responsible for tne monarchist terrorism. Mempers of the delegation are the EAM secretary, a memoer of the Communist Party, Mr Demetrios Palsauues, an industrialist, Mr Aiplvjadis Loulis, former Liberal senator! General Grigoriadis, a leaping Qreek Socialist, Professor Georgalas, and a journalist, Mr Nicos Carbounis. all of Xyiiom fought with the Grees Resistance Movement in the mountains. They came to London to make contact with officials and inform the British puolic of the relations regarding the EAM coalition and the issues lacing Greece. They hope to see Mr Ernest Bevin and leading trade unionists. The delegation said that the recent political change was brought about by Briiish intervention. The Greek people considered this British action an important new start in the British policy correcting the initial unfortunate interference. The EAM poalition offered Mr Emmanuel Sofoulis (Prime Minis-

ter) full support without claiming his participation in the Government, providing he proceeded firmly with the preparations for free elections, the principal prerequisites of which were: (11 A general amnesty for all political detainees, both in Greece and the Middle East. (2) A purge of the Armed Forces, the judiciary and the police. (31 New voting lists to be drawn up on the basis of the general census. The delegation said that the prisons of Greece were still filled and arrests were continuing. The heads of the Allied Mission observing the Greek General Election stated that they were arranging for four teqms of observers to visit all parts of Greece to procure information concerning existing electoral registers and the preparations being made for the conduct of the election. The mission intended to maintain a strictly independent and neutral position. The World Trade Union Federation will send observers to supervise the election of the general governing committee for Greek Trade Unions early in January, and advise on the reorganisation of the union movement.

Mr Sofoulis has announced that the Greek geiiejal elections will bp held in the last week of March. 1946. The Central Comrpittee of E.A.M. issued a statement withdrawing support for the Soufoiilis Cabinet because it had not granted an amnpsty and also has not proceeded’ with purging the Government machine, nor with the revision of the electoral lists, or measures connected with the economic relief of the people. The Greek Government reached an agreement with Unrra representatives at Athens on a tentative figure of £50,000,000 for Unrra imports into Greece during 1946.