Evening star., 1944-12-31
King Appoints
Archbishop as
Greek Regent
Domoskinos Expected
To Take Over odoy,
Form New Regime
BY the Associated Press,


George II of Greece tonight an.
nounced appointment of Arch.
bishop Damaskinos of Athen.
as regent of his strife-torn coun.
try. taking a step generally re.
garded here as tantamount to re.
linquishing his throne.
The 54-year-old monarchs roae
has been rocky for years and most
observers in London's diplomatic
quarters believe the Greek people
who are swinging to the left, would
vote against monarchy in the
plebiscite which is expected to be
held.
Appointment of the regent was
announced in royal proclamation
issued after statement in Athens
that the archbishop probably would
assume his duties as regent tomor-
row.
The proclamation. stating that
the king had deeply considered the
terrible situation" into which Greece
had fallen, said he had resolved
not to return to the country unless
summoned by free and fair ex-
preston of national will' and au-
thorized Archbishop Damaskinos to
take all steps necessary to restore
order and tranquility"
Convinced by Churchill.
The king, reported to have op-
posed the regency. was believed to
have been convinced of the neces-
sity Of the measure by Prime Min
ister Churchill, who had just return
ed from Athens. Reliable sources said
Mr.. Churchill told the Greek king
that a regency would be established
by the government in Athens re-
gardless Of his consent.
Establishment of a regency had
been unanimously agreed upon by
the all-party conference convened
by Mr.. Churchill and Foreign Sec
retary Anthony Eden last Tuesday
IN an effort to restore peace in
Greece.
Archbishop Damaskinos, an open
opponent of dictatorship who was
exiled for two years during the
Metaxas regime in Greece, was
considered one Of the main organ
lzers OF the resistance movement by
the Germans during their occupa-
ton OF Greece. He is 81 years old
and has been an official of the
Greek Church since 1928 when he
was named Bishop of Corinth.
New Government Due.
The Archbishop's first task will
be to form new government.
Indications that 85-year-old The
mostikles Sophoulis, dean of the
Greek Liberal party. would be asked
to head new administration fol-
lowed reports that Premier George
Papandreou had submitted tenta-
tive resignation to the King before
the latter's conference with Mr.
Churchill.
There were reliable reports ir
Athens today that the left-wine
ELIAS forces which have been bat.
tling British and Greek government
troops for more than three weeks
had sent a message to Mr.. Church
Ill proposing an immediate truce anc
suggesting British arbitration.
There was no slackening in tn,
fighting today, however, as the Brit,
ishs and Greek regulars continued
their drive against the ELIAS in tn,
eastern suburbs. The ELIAS wer,
reported continuing strong pressur,
against the rightist EDES forces O.
Gen. Napoleon Zervas In Northwest.
en Greece. The rightists apparentl,
were evacuating to the island O
Corfu, held by the Britt sh and force.
friendly to Gen. Zervas.
Athens newspapers reported toda,
that the EAM (national liberation
front party which controls tn,
ELAS) cabled Mr.. Churchill las
night giving complete acceptance O
the terms of 1t. Gen. Ronald M
Scobie. British commander il
Greece, including cessation of hos
tilities. Gen. Scobie denied nowl
edge of this message, but said /