GREEK POLITICAL CRISIS

Chronicle (Levin), 20 January 1947, Page 5

GREEK POLITICAL CRISIS

Press Assn.-*

Six Ministers Resign From Cabinet

COALITION OFFER REFUSED

By Telegraph

Copyright

Reeeived Sunday, 8.50 p.m. LONDON, Jan. 19. Mr. Tsaldaris has given fllc Opposition leaders until Mouday to say if they are pi'epared to paftieipate in a broadened Greek Government. Otherwi.se he will proceed to apply liis own policy. Mr. Tsaldaris stated that in ordet to form a Coolition Governmenl he would step down from tlie premiership and aecept hue of the viee-premierships with Mr. Sofoiilis. He added that tlie new Prime Minister should be someoue upon \\4iom they could agree. Mr. Sofoulis rejeeted Mr. Tsaldaris 's offer, saying it was a "political triek to misguidc public opinion." Six Cabinet iMinisters resign ed as a result of Mr. Tsaldaris's ret'nsal to ask the King to convoke a Council of fhe Crown to overcome the Cabinet erisis. The Ministers are four National Libei'als. namely Mr. Gonatas, Deputy Prime Afiti i«t er ; Mr. Avraam, Merehant Marine; Perotis, Posts and Telegraphs and Mr. Paridimitriou, Trans])oi't ; oue Rovnl Re- . ['ormist, namely Mr. Alexandris. minister without portfolio; and -iiic Reformist. IMr. Michalaeopou los. National Eeonomy. Tlio Britisli Economic Mission announccd an advance of £5, 000.000 to (trceco for which Mr. Tsaldaris exprcssed thanks. The Prime Alini.stor described the report that the ITniteil States liad advanced a sum to Greece a> premature,. The Central Gommittee of EAM ap pealed to the Greek gtterrillas to observe a truce while the I'nited Xations Commission is in Greece on conditiou that G reek Government forces also suspended operations. Tlie I'nited States has made a £2,7.10,900 sterling grant to Greece ro , enable her to overcome her immediato i ditlicult ios.