Evening star., 1945-02-02
Letters to The Star
Mr.. Nicholson Discusses Greece
With His Tongue in His Cheek

II I were to write the agenda of the
proposed conference of Messrs Churchill,
Roosevelt and Stain, I would arrange
the subjects to be discussed not in the
order of their gravity, but levity, placing
the easiest at the top, the hardest at
the bottom. According to this scheme,
the problem Of Germany would be the
first, that of Greece the last to be ham
died, since the battle of Athens is the
prelude Of world war number three.
I would recommend the listing of the
subjects in this manner for expediency
as well as for psychological reasons
agreement, which is of the essence A
bright morning is a good omen herald
ing lovely day ahead.
The Greek question is the biggest,
hardest, most intricate and thorny prob
lem before Churchill, Roosevelt and
Stain, because Greece is the crossroads
of the Mediterranean where Russia and
England decided to confront each other
as potential enemies. The battle of
Athens and the simmering civil war in
Greece are neither accidents nor phe-
nomena OF local significance. They rep
resent the ancient dreadful disease of
humanity. which is now spreading all
over Europe, but especially in Greece,
exhibiting there its most sinister
symptoms.
10 simplify matters, the civil war in
Greece today Is miniature of the red
revolution in Russian in 1918. The
Communist leaders of EAM Greek
Front Of Liberation) are decided to wage
war against Regent Damaskinos and
Premier Plastiras, to overthrow them
and erect their own government.
Outline of Objectives.
They seem to have the following OBJ
jectives:
First, to Russianize Greece second.
to create new state out of the three
Macedonias-the Greek, the Serbian
and the Bulgarian; third, to organize a
Balkan federation on the pattern of
the U. S. S. r.; fourth, to establish an
alliance OF the Balkan federation with
Russia for mutual assistance against
any and all aggressors, and fifth, to try
IN every possible way to induce Turkey
to join the federation, using peaceful
means. If these prove futile, to invade
Turkey and deprive her of the Dar-
danelles and Bosporus
The leaders of Fam, being Com
munists, take their orders from Moscow,
Therefore, the revolution in Greece is
sponsored by Russia against England,
in Srifa nf ha
ls43
When Churchill sits at the green table
with Stain, they will both know that
they are enemies. Churchill will smile
and ask Stain his reactions to the fatal
drama now being played in Greece.
Stain will say:
L am not responsible in the least.
The blood of the innocent men, women
and children who have been slaugh-
tered In Athens and who will be slauah-
tered IN Peloponnesus, Thessaly, Epirus,
Macedonia, and Thrace is on the hands
OF Siantos, Miantos and Company. I
have nothing to do with their nefarious
schemes and crimes"
II the conference were being held in
Jerusalem las believe it should bej
Churchill viii remember Pontius PLATE
and remark ee~es~se4
I know you are innocent. but in
nocence alone in this case doesn't seem
10 prevent murder Greece Is being
delivered into the hands Of the parti-
sans of Santos and Miantos. won't
you be trifie more than neutral In a
Roman sense, which 1 admit is legal,
and be little more concerned in a
Greek sense, which is moral and hu-
manitarian? After all, Greece DELAYED
Hitler in the spring of 1s4l."
The Dialogue Continues.
Stain will interrupt him and say in
earnest:
Please, I am open to suggestions
What is the use of forcing an open
door? What would you like me to do?"
Churchill: Il would ask you to order
those eangsters to stop shooting. dis
arm, go home and shave .. ="
Stain: My good man, 1 have done
this very same thing long ago. In fact
l did 1t in December. 1 sent a Christ
mas card to Siantos and Miantos, wish
ing them in Greek: Epi ghis creme en-
dnfhroptS epdokia peace on earth. good
will among mem. What else could I
do?"
Churchill: Il am overpowered with
gratitude for your tenderness, Comrade
Stain, for that inspiration of genius.
And what, pray, was the answer to your
most gracious message?"
Stain: MET, rien, nofing. I was
hoping for an answer until the end
OF December. Now, to tell you the truth
1 am beginning to despair. 1 wash nv
hands from Siantos and Miantos." (He
washes his hands) Here, I am inno-
cent?"
Then President Roosevelt will hold
his cigaret holder as a drummer holds
his stick, iron his voice and say:
MY friends, allow me to remind you
that the solutions of all the problems
OF the universe which we put down on
paper are yet in nebulous condition,
that tney will take time, q long time,
In fact eternity as far as we are con-
cerned, to evolve into worlds innumer-
able, since we all must strive for per-
1ect1onism no matter If we shall ever
attain it or not. Oh yes 1 was speaking
OF eternity, wasn't I? If you can
follow the astronomical way of my
thinking Well, why then not be
realists in practice, as we are in theory?
Why not be optimists, rather than pes
slmists? And why not leave a few
questions unsolved, or at least one ques-