NEW GOVERNMENT TOR GREECE TO FIGHT REBELS

Grey River Argus, 15 November 1948, Page 5

NEW GOVERNMENT TOR GREECE TO FIGHT REBELS

<Rec. 10.30) ATHENS, Nov. 13 The Greek Prime Minister (Mi oophoulis) has handed his resignation to King Paul, who accepted it. The Greek Coalition Government decided to resign at a special meeting held just before Mr Sophoulis went to tne Palace. Mr Sophoulis said he had resigned oecause of the “irresponsible part.-,-politics” of Mr Venizelos, who is the leader of a group whicn has been supporting the Government, and the impossibility of the Populist coalition carrying out the administrative reforms sponsored by the United States observers in Greece. He added that King Paul would summon Mr Tsaldaris to discuss the crisis before asking any party leaaei to form a new Cabinet. King Paul, having received the resignation of M. Sophoulis, Prime Minister, has asked M. 1 Tsaldaris, the leader of the Populist Party, which is the largest Greek political party, to form a new Government to reMace the Populist-Liberal coalition of M. Sophoulis, which resigned yesterday. M. Tsaldaris who is the Greek Foreign Minister and was formely Premier called at the Palace for discussions with King Paul. Later he said that he was determined to end the crisis as soon as possible so as to enable the struggle against the Communist guerrillas to be pressed. He added: “We will not allow Greece to become another Czechoslovakia. There will be no compromise.” Rebellion Damage Over £63 Millions (Rec. 9.40) ATHENS, Nov. 13 The Greek Ministry of Co-ordina-tion has announced that the guerrilla warfare in Greece has so far caused damage estimated at £63,592,500 sterling. LONDON, Nov. 13 Reuter’s correspondent at Athens, says that the police tq-day seized printing and radio equipment and arrested an Athens dressmaker and twenty other women in Piraeu, all of whom are suspected of co-operating with General Markos, the rebel leader. ______