Evening star., 1944-05-05
Letters to The Star
A Liberal Interpretation
OF Greek Dissension
To the Editor of The Star:

~~~~
commenting on the current status of
internal Greek affairs and particularly
on recent changes within the exiled
Greek government and the prevailing
difficulties within the Greek armed
forces.
While it Is true, as you state, that
Greek dissension is deep-seated," this
dissension has q very sound basis which
cannot be explained by those vague
terms which you used, intense fac
tionalism and localism."
Trouble began in Greece when the
Greek people created a new form Of
government and named it "demokratia." /"
This "demokratia" is the basis of all
Greek dissension. Not content with
having the idea In abstract, the Greek
people wanted to live under that form
Of government
But as q great American once said,
eternal vigilance Is the price of liberty. ;"
In 1871 the Greek people began to fight
for independence from the Turks. SINH
lar movements developed all over
Europe and in South America. It
took the Greek people 10 years to gain
their freedom-lo years Of terrorism,
starvation and fighting. The final
achievement Of freedom was made pos
sible by aid from the British and the
Americans, for which the Greek people
still are grateful.
After freeing themselves from Turkish
suzerainty, the Greeks found that they
still had not gotten democracy or in
dividual freedom. There was an enemy
within the country ready to grab the
autocratic powers Of the Turks.
dreece's key geographic position, as
you pointed out, made her the prey
OF many countries which united with
elements within the country to gain
control. against the wishes of the people.
Foreign rulers (the present royal family
comes from Sake -Coburg) were foisted
on the Greek people by foreign inter-
vention. So the Greek people had to
continue to fight for "demokratia."
Today the Greek people still are fight
ing for freedom and democracy. They
are lighting the Germans and Bull
garians who invaded and desecrated
their country. Again, in spite of star
vation. terrorism and exploitation, they
continue to struggle for their freedom.
They have fought for four years, and
they continue with little equipment
against overwhelming odds.
What you refer to as 'mutiny" in the
Greek Army and Navy in Egypt Is Just
continuation Of that same struggle.
Last August, representatives Of UNDER
ground groups fighting in Greece escaped
to Cairo to ask King George to agree
TO stay out of Greece until a plebiscite
could be held among the liberated Greek
people to determine what form of gov
ernment they desired. The delegation
was composed Of three former members
OF the Greek Parliament (two Liberals
and one Royalist one Independent
Democrat, one Conservative and one
Communist. Contrary to your editorial.
the Communists are not playing a
major roll In Greek politics, as indicated
BY the makeup Of tniy delegation. Re-
member, to1s that befors this war. the
people Of 0rsees had been fighting the
domestic Fascist dictatorslaip OF a6etaxas
over which King George n reigned.
the delegation also asked that the
underground resistance groups be given
representation in the Greek govern
ment-in-exile. For their efforts. the
delegation was put under house arrest
BY the British and held incommunicsdo
until they were returned to Greece.
They received no answer from the King,
although the cabinet agreed to their
demands.
Through the winter the demands Of
the EAM and EDEs, whose guerrilla
forces were risking their lives for Greece.
continued to demand representation.
Early tn April high ranking Greek
omcers visited Premier Tsouderos and
urged him to accept into the govern
ment representatives Of the EAM.
largest and oldest Greek undereround
movement. whose army Is known a. the
Greek Liberation Army. This demand
was considered "undisciplinary" by the
Premier and he ordered that the ofIicers
be placed under arrest. When the escort
Joined the officers and freed them,
Tsouderos had to resign.
The officers and men Of three ships,
the destroyer Ierax, corvettes Apostolis
and sachtouris, Of the Royal Greek Navy,
and soldiers from the crack Greek lst
Army refused to move until adequate
representation was given their brothers
fn-arms In Greece This was the revolt
that Vice Admiral Petros voulgaris
finally put down, with the moral" sup
port Of the British Navy surrounding
the Greek ships.
The future of liberated Greece is not
an enigma. The people in Greece and
the Greek soldiers and sailors outside
Of Greece have become familiar with
that concept "demokratia" through the
long years of struggle. After the war
with Germany and its Fascist satellites
Is won the Greeks either will get de-
mocracy or keep on fighting until they
do. They will not compromise. even
II reaction bears q Greek name.
MADELINE KARR.
Doubts Postwar Prosperity
To the Editor Of The Star:
Eric A. Johnston nresident NJ tho