TO BOYCOTT ELECTIONS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 90, Issue 55, 7 March 1946, Page 5

TO BOYCOTT ELECTIONS

GREEK LEFT-WING PARTIES’ ULTIMATUM London, March 4. [ The principal Greek Left Wing parties have issued a joint statement declaring their intention lo boycott the elections on March 31, rays Reuter’s Athens’ correspondent. A manifesto supported by an E.A.M. coalition led by the Socialists and the Sofianopouloss Republicans, charges the Greek Government with responsibility “for the continuation of the farce which is leading the country to civil war worse than in December, 1944, and to exiernal complications which will have tragic consequences for the Greek people.”

The manifesto describes the Government’s decision to hold elections on March 31 as “nothing more than a coup d’etat intended to perpetuate the tyranny of the political and economic oligarchy and facilitates the restoration of a royalty hated by the Greek people.” The manifesto stated that the Left Wing parties were prepared to participate in tfye elections if held two months later and the six condition? were fulfilled:— (1) That the new Government be formed on a broad bask, with the participation of the national resistance part les. (2) That a purge of collaborators 1 and former members of German Security battalions in the army, the gendarmerie and the police be carried out. (3) The dissolution of Right Wing armed bards and “monarcho-fascisl organisations.” (4) A general amnesty for u-eft Wing prisoners. (5) The inclusion in the electoral roll of Left Wing supporters not now registered. (6) A purge of registers of all persons not legally entitled to vote.

joint United Statcs-Canadian Permanent Defence Board to Britain and the rest of the Empire, says the Canadian Press Association. It was pointed out that steps had already been taken to integrate the work of the Canadian armed services with those of Britain and the United States by training the Canadian Fleet to co-operate either with the British or the United States Navies and by exchanging observers and officers at various military colleges.