Evening star., 1944-12-06
U. 5. Likely 10 Assert
Hands s-0K Policy
In Greek Turmoil
BY JOHN M. HIGHTOWER,
Associated Press stan Writer.

Associated Pres3 Stau writer.
The United States is considering
active application of its European
"hands-off" policy to Greece. The
hope of officials here is that it may
help to end the fighting between
British troops and Greek EAM
forces.
Uncertainty over exactly what
course may be most effective in
winning for the Greek people free
dom of political action has stayed
the hands of Secretary of State
Stettinius for the time being. But
it was said that the basic policy
enunciated yesterday for italy ano
"even more" for the liberated Euro
pean countries should apply par
ticularly to strife-ridden Greece.
The State Department declared in
its policy statement that all liberat-
ed peoples should have the right tc
choose their own governments with
out outside interference. This was
pointed specifically at Britain's veto
of Count Carlo Sforza as foreign
minister in a new Italian govern
ment.
U. S. Not Consulted.
Britain did not consult the United
States before blocking the appoint
ment. If it had done so indica-
tions are that the United States
would have argued vigorously
against the action.
Today in Commons Foreign Sec
retary Anthony Eden maintained
that his government has a perfect
right to state to the forming gov
ernments of Europe its opinion
about the inclusion of particular
man as minister This means at
least surface split in British and
American policy on what the Amer
ican statement called outside in
reference"
For President Roosevelt and Sec
retary Stettinius it raised the ques-
ton: How far are they willing to
back the policy with action? The
answer may lie in specific cases
rather than by generalization, but at
the outset action is certain to be
limited to political persuasions.
AS a matter of policy, however,
officials said the apparent split with
Britain would not be permitted to
become serious and that Secretary
Eden'S inSiStence on the British DO
SltiOn was not, in the circumstances,
unexpected here.
Greece Is Next Case.
After Italy, Greece is the first
specific case which arises. The feel
ing in official quarters here is that
the situation has been badly handled.
On the one hand, it is believed that
at the moment the Fam resistance
groups have fallen under the con-
troll of minority Communist lead
ership which would not give the
Greek people full freedom of politi-
cal action.
On the other hand. authorities
believe that use of force by the
British probably could have been
avoided and should now be ended
as quickly as possible in the interest
of future good Greek-British rela-
tions. The United States itself has
no troops in Greece, but officials are
working on the theory that Ameri-
can interests in a peaceful Europe
are nonetheless Immediately in
Volved
1t is recognized that for the Brit
ish the problem is acute. Prime
Minister Churchill and Premier
Stain apparently agreed that Rus
sia should keep hands off Greece.
But Communist supremacy in
Greece, in view of the way the Com
munists adhere to Moscow foreign
policy, would effectively negate the
agreement.
American officials apparently are
sympathetic with the British. Their
argument boils down to the fact
that they believe forcible imposi-
ton of government on a liberated
country is the certain road to wide
open power politics and more vio-
lent conflict in Europe.