BRITISH MISGIVINGS

Chronicle (Levin), 27 November 1946, Page 5

BRITISH MISGIVINGS

• (Special Correspondent).

Unsettled Greek Situation AlERICAN tiELP WMTED

Received Tuesday, 7 p.m., LONDON, Nov. 25. It is reported in London that Mr. Bevin has asked the Americans to assume joint responsibi'lity with Britain for the restoratioYi of more settled economic and political conditions in 'Gre'ece. The sittiation in Northern Greece is cansing a'bVious misgivings in Britaih, tvhere the resembiance b'etwGen tlie present eon'ditions in Maeedoni'a *aftd Thrace and the situation on tlie Spahish boi'dei-s in 1936, " when General Fraiico began his revolt, is not overlooked. Britain feels she has done all she can do and all that she can be ex[jected to do for the Greeks, and that, if the growing tlireat o'f disintegra'tion on the Greek nortlier'n frontiers is to b;e met, she must be able to c'all up'on Anierican support. The real issue is whether Greece is to remain within the orbit of the Westella Dernocracies or whether she is to be foreed to accept the domination of her Balkan neighbours, who are themselves dominated by Russia. The Greeks believe that Yugoslavia and Bulgaria desire to force the secession of Thraee and Macedonia from Greece so that they can ineorporate these two Greek provinces in the Balkans federation, wliieh would pave tlre way to a union between Bnlgaria and Yugoslavia under the general patronage of Russia. They believe that these Bulgarian and YTigoslav anibitions are behind the covert aid which they allege is being given to the Macedonian rebels from across the border. The danger that the Greeks may feel themselves foreed to take these allegations before the Seeurity Uouncil is plainly foreseen in London. It is hoped that such a development can be avoided for the controversy it would nndonbtedly aronse niigh't well further jeopal'dise the delicate negotiations in the Uouncil of Foreign Ministers. Under these circumstances, Mr. Bevin 's move is eonstrued as an indication that he desires a convincing deinonstration of British and Ameriean solidarity in order to counter outside pressure upon Greece and dissuade her Balkan neighbours from carrying matters too far. It is not suggested that Ameriean troops should be sent to Greece and, indeed, it is an opeu secret that Mr. Bevin would be very happv if he could implement his proniise and withdraw the British troops alreadv there. Every suggostion that this should be done, 'however, has thrown the Greek Governnient into a pame,. and at the nioment it semiis to be taken for granted that the British troops must leniain. What Britain >Seeks. ( What Britain hopes to get i'rom America is moral backing and linancia! assistange, for this is almost as liadly needed as slrengthenigg oi tlie Greek Government's internal authority. The internal divisions in the eountry have prevented the Tsaldaris Govern ment from atteniptiug the tremendous task of economic reconstruction, and meantinie Greek industrv stagnates aiul becomes a fertile breeding ground for discontent and disruption. Tlie roads, railways, bridges aiui at least 2000 towns and villages require reconstruction. The civil service is in a state ot: disorganisation, and tlie eountry 's coffers are enipty. In Britain 's present situation it is felt that another loan to tlie Greeks is out of the question, and that, if the Greek econoniy is to be reseued from tlie threat of disiiitegration, America must assist.

Whether the Americans, wlio have lilready refused their assist ance in Palestine, where thev were confrouted with a somewhat similar decision, can be pre vailed upon to reinforce British aiul Anierican foreign policy at the cost oi tlie risks-'pl|iinly entahled in Greece, romains to be seen, but no very optimistic view of the. prospeets is taken in London. Greek King's Return. Reports from Athens suggest flint so far the return of the Greek King has increased rather than diuiinished tlie fension in his eountry. The resto ration of the Monarehy has deprived the Governnient of the tentative support of the

moderate Republicaus and Radicals and lias diyided the eountry at a time when it is lhost essential tiiat it should be united. The Republicaus -are not believed to be taking anv part in the present troubles, which are mainly fostOred by Communists inside Greek territory an'd by the Slav-Macedonian Separalist) movement, which is supported from be-' yond the borders. Although the Greek Governnient claims it has ample proof of tliis outside interference, it is felt that, if specilic charges are made before tlie Seeurity Uouncil, they may be diflicult to substantiate. There is no doubt. that mueh of the guerrilla activitv springs from internal divisions among tlie Greeks themselves, and if there is outside interference it would be a simple matter for those responsible to disown their agents and disguise their activities. Some signilicance is attached to the present visit to London of tlie Chief of tlie Greek General Staff, accompanied by the British eommander in Greece (General Rawlings). Their arrival eoincides with the renewed Greek demands for more arms and equipment to enable the Greek forces to suppress the revolt and defend its frontiers. A Greek Arniy battalion repufsing an attack by bandits at Ivipouryo in the Pindus Mountains last Satur'day killed 18 bandits, wounded 40 and captured two. A courtmartial at Larissa sentenced to death two Greek sokliers and ohe civilian for _ "high treason and cooperation with armed bandits." The court sentenced to life imprisonment six soldiers and four civilians for helping the guerrilla s.