Evening star., 1938-11-26
Greek Parliament
Beautiful Edifi(e,
But Now Unneeded
Totolitorion Regime Is
One Of Tiehtest in
Small Nations
BY DEWITT MACKENZIE.

Associated Press Foreign Affairs Writer.
ATHENS, Nov. 26.-There stands
amidst beautiful surroundings In
the heart OF Athens structure so
large and imposing that it immedi-
ately attracts the attention of the
visitor.
That used to be the House Of
Parliament" resident explained to
me, but since we got a dictator we
don't have any need of a parlia-
ment, and so they use the building
for government Offices"
This very matter of fact state
ment, made with refreshing naivete,
pretty well sums up the political
situation in Greece at this important
moment when the Hitlerian drive
for domination is sweeping the Ball
kans.
The land which gave birth to
democracy back in days when the
gods still controlled human affairs
from the heights of Olympus has
one OF the tightest totalitarian gov
ernments in any of the small coun-
tries.
And the average citizen will tell
you bluntly that he doesn't like regi-
mentation. That is, he will say so if
none of the secret police of Minister
OF Public Safety Maniadakis are
knocking about in the neighborhood
with distended ears.
Freedom Is a Tradition.
The tradition of freedom of politi-
cal speech goes back to hundreds Of
years before the Christian era, and,
although it has been interrupted by
conquerors, the Greek still cherishes
the right to speak his mind He is
natural born politician.
The man who has imposed an
authoritative government over his
fellow citizens doesn't look at all
the type you would expect to be
holding down the lid of such a
steaming kettle. Gen. John Metaxas
has the appearance of being q
gentle soul.
They call him Little John
Gonnaki is the Greek of that be-
cause he is short of stature. One
guesses that he is S feet or 4
inches tall and close to that in
girth.
When you add to this round,
pleasant face which beams with
kindness, you inevitably say to your
self, Santa Claus"
Certainly one finds it hard to
reconcile that delightful and friendly
smile with the fact that a host of
his political opponents, whose num-
Der is estimated at some 5000 or
1000, are languishing in exile on
the small islands off the Greek
coast.
Metaxas rounded up all his
enemies who were strong enough to
do him harm and shipped them to
the isles. Among them are many
prominent men, such as Col Sty-
lanos Gonatas, famous soldier and
republican leader, and ex-Premier
George Kafandaris, one of the
country's noted statesmen. All in
all, they would make quite a good
sized who's who of Greece.
Trained for Army.
Metaxas is 81 and was born on
1thaca-Ulysses Island He is said to
come from fine old family. He
was trained for the army and COM
pleted his studies at the Kriegsakad-
emie in Berlin, fact held to ac-
count to considerable degree for his
strong liking for Germany and her
culture
Metaxas' career has been volcan-
ic-here chief of staff and there in
political exile because of his political
views. Finally in April of 1896. after
King Georges recall to the throne,
We find the general made Premier.
In August of that year the Pre-
mier persuaded the King to dissolve
Parliament and rule by decree, on
the grounds that Communist re-
volt was brewing.
The general has purged the gov
ernment services and army and
navy and got rid of all visible oppo-
sition. Elective officials like mayors
have largely been replaced by his
own appointeeS.