Evening star., 1941-03-06
British, Greeks
Trade Vows for
Finish Fight
Eden, in Leaving,
Pledges War Till
Victory Is Won
BN the Associated Press.

ATHENS, March 6.-Greek
leaders and the press reafflrmed
today, in farewell messages to
British Foreign Secretary An
thony Eden, the nations deter
mination to fight on against any
and all comerS.
With German forces massing on
the Bulgarian frontier facing Greece,
Mr. Eden matched the Greek decla-
rations with a promise that Britain
would stand by her, although the
future may be arduous."
"Indomitable and proud" asserted
the newspaper AsyrmatoS, I'VE shall
march to victory. The heroic eX-
ample we set on october %, 1910
(when the Italians invaded Greece
will guide us IN any decision it may
be necessary to take in the future
in case our independence or integrity
is threatened.
This attitude was reflected in
other sections of the press which,
with one voice, declared Greece's
stand was "heartening to all free
people" and undoubtedly will be
followed by other peoples in the
Balkan Peninsula"
British Fight Pledged.
Mr.. Eden told Greece Britain would
fight at her side until final victory
is won"
The pledge was delivered after
Mr.. Eden concluded a series of con-
ferences with Greek leaders which
a communique said resulted in COM
plete agreement "on all aspects OF
the situation" in the Balkans.
Just before leaving Athens last
night in company with Gen. Sir
John G. Dill, chief of the British
Imperial General Staff, Mr.. Eden
issuec a statement praising the
Greeks for their heroic resistance
to brutal attack" and ending with
the words:
The future may be arduous, but
be assured that we shall not rest
nor falter until final victory is
won"
Mr.. Eden and Gen. Dill con-
ferred at length Yesterday with King
George II and Premier Alexander
KoriziS. A formal announcement
by the Greek government said they
examined very attentively the
situation in the Balkans, where they
continued all efforts with view to
preventing the spread of war"
The spread of war" was inter
preted by observers as having but
one meaning-German invasion of
Greece through Bulgaria.
Mr.. Eden's destination was not
announced. but it was believed he
was en- route to Cairo, headquarters
of the British Middle East COM
mand. Last week he concluded talks
with Turkish leaders which were
said to have resulted in Turkey S
affirmation of her treaty of
friendship and alliance with Britain.
In his parting statement, Mr.. Eden
said:
Like all Englishmen we have
watched for many months with ad-
miration the heroic resistance of
the Greek people to brutal attack.
1T was said in Athens 1900 years
ago that the secret of happiness is
freedom and the secret of freedom
is courage. You are giving new life
to this great tradition.
Nazi Pressure Rejected.
The Greek government, through
it's high command, yesterday firmly
rejected German pressure for a sep
arate Greek-Italian peace, declaring
"the army and people have decided
to face events, no matter from what
direction, and fight on with the
same undying will for their liberty
and fatherland.''
A communique indicated troops
already had been dispatched to the
Bulgarian border north of Salonika
to meet the threat of a German
invasion.
The only important military ac-
ton reported yesterday on the Al
banian front was the British bomb
ing of Italian warships which
shelled Greek positions in Albania.
A communique said the British shot
down nine italian planes guarding
the warships and damaged others.
The Greek high command said
the Italian vessels, which it de-
scribed as destroyers, fed when the
r. A. F. attacked.
Land operations in Albania were
(See GREEK, Page A-23D