Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1944-12-15
BEHIND
The NEWS
BY Paul.
MaIIon

w is difficult for officials 10
say explicitly what caused the
trouble in Greece, yet the inner
evidence here plainly suggests
the purpose Of the revolt.
p 1t IS reported through subter-
ranean official avenues of COM
munication (army men and
senators have heard and believe
ID that a Russian colonel was
discovered among the revolu-
tioniStS, giving them military
advice if not leading them.
Also the firing began imme-
diately after the prevailing
Greek government had at
tempted to diSband the guerilla
forces in which the Communists
were a strong and armed ele-
ment.
From these and dovetajling
known facts. a general conClu-
sion has arisen that the Conn
muniStS were struggling TO get
control of the remaining Greek
armed forces, and maintain
their own arms.
They were adequately repre-
sented in the government.
Two Communists were in
government seats of power,
three other radicals favoring
them had important posts But
they lacked control of the mill
tary.
NOT more than 5 per cent Of
" the Greek electorate is
Communist or radical.
The bulk of the population is
small farmer
heftiSts,, however, control the
railway unions, the street rail-
way employees and such small
but highly organized city groups
and they WELD an influence far
beyond their democratic power.
In Italy, the Communists
were kept from cabinet posts
where they might do the most
damage.
War, foreign affairs, educa-
ton. aviation, treasury, etc,
were filled by liberals, labor
and Christian democrats.
The Communists got a=rice=
premiership. occupie d terri
tories, finance -fdistinct- from
treasury. and agriculture.
In YugoSlavia. the Commu-
niSts are taking everything, with
Tito in control of the army. the
Reds alongside him and Mihail-
ovich retreating westward over
the mountains of Bosnia.
Not much news has come
from Rumania or Poland where
both censorship and confusion
are in operation.
But the prevailing Commu-
niStS have again excluded four
of our officials from Bulgaria.
But do not these facts pre-
sent in stark simplicity the
problem of Europe. even in
GLIDING Belgium and France
de Gaulle having concluded
mutual assistance pact with
Moscow, although Stain did
not follow out the earlier pacts
of friendship when France was
attacked but maintained his
August, 1899, agreement with
Hitler until he, himself. was at
tackled June. 1941, after the fall
of France, 194nD
THE questions raised are: Is
Il il possible to reach agree
ment with Communists on the
division of democratic power?
Does not the very nature of
the Communist-radical cause
prevent them from cooperating
sincerely in democratic govern
ment?
Is there not a new ray NJ
light for democracy rising
from these troubles?
Would any country in Europe
60 Communist if the people
were allowed an election free
from the influence of Moscow
as well AS Britain?
Are not the CommuniSt-radi-
Gals merely highly organized
small minorities?
Are they really not getting
from negotiation more power IN
their governments than free
election might provide them?
But is il possible 10 hold an
election free of Russian and
British influence?
If il is impossible must the
world not fall back necessarily
into spheres OF influence with
some for Russia. some for the
British. some for us?
Certainly events are making
the troublesome elements in.
creaSingly plain. and as long as
people can see what the prob
lem is, there is a chance of solu-
ton.
THE fuss in the Senate over
Il new state department APP
pointecS reflects no diStruSt
with the announced policy of
the Stettinius regime for free
determination.
In fact. the whole affair was
started by two newspapers.
They turned two senators
around.
Pennsylvania Senator Cuff
fey and New York's Wagner
had voted in the foreign rela-