NATIONAL CHARTER

Waikato Times, Volume 194, Issue 22355, 23 May 1944, Page 4

NATIONAL CHARTER

ADOPTION BY GREEKS MERGING GUERILLA FORCES LONDON, May 21 Delegates to the four-day Greek conference in the Middle East disclosed that the Premier, M. Papandreou, had drawn up a list of Cabinet posts in which Communists were included, says the American Associated Press Beirut correspondent. The conference accepted King George’s declaration that he would leave the question of his return to Greece until the country was liberated. • The conference adopted a national charter which includes the merging of all guerilla forces in a national army, ending the fratricidal strife in Greece, also reorganisation and establishment of discipline in the Greek armed forces in the Middle East. M. Papandreou, in a speech to the conference, suggested that the Allies might contribute a sum equal to one day’s cost of the war to the relief of the Greek population alter the country was liberated. Mr Churchill has received a message from the heads of the Greek political parties attending the PanHellenic conference in Lebanon. Signed by M. B. V. S. Malos for the Political Committee of National Liberation, M. Porphyrugennis for Earn and M. Russo for the Greek Communist Party, the message reads: “As representatives of fighting Greece to the conference for national unity, we desire to express to your excellency our respectful admiration and to thank you for the interest you take in our country and her future. This interest springs from a more than century-old tradition which is dear to the Greeks and which the actions of so distinguished a person as your excellency have made still stronger. Severe Judgment “We believe it is this interest, coupled with sorrow, as rightly felt, on account of the recent events in our Middle East forces, which evoked your severe judgment of our country. May wo be permitted to state, however, that the resistance and bloody struggle of the Greek peoples in the towns and the mountains are such as to exceed in moral importance the madness of the. actions of irresponsible persons, which although they spring from a desire for national unity have led to deplorable and disastrous results which must be condemned by all. “Your Excellency may rest assured that we will do all in our power to achieve the national unity which is an essential condition not only for a more successful struggle against the enemy but also for reconstruction of our country, the victim of Italian, German and Bulgarian aggression. We know that the help of your great Allies and especially of Britain under her dauntless leader will not be found wanting.*’ It is officially announced that the delegates to the conference unanimously agreed on the formation of a Coalition Government. All the delegates signed the national charter. Premier to Resign M. Papandrceu is resigning from his position as Prime Minister of Greece tomorrow, when it is anticipated that the King will ask him to form a new Government. The Cairo radio broadcast the following extract from M. Papandreou’s closing speech at the Beirut conference: “The common acceptance of a national programme is already achieved and my mission has ended. I am going to Cairo to report to the King, to whom I am submitting my resignation. The initiative for forming a new Government belongs to the King.’’