Evening star., 1945-01-18


ing with Premier Stain by which
our two countries pursue a joint
policy in these regions"
This agreement" he quickly
added, raised no question of divi-
sions of territory or spheres of in
terest after the war"
Called Wise Agreement.
He said this agreement aimed only
at the avoidance during these crit
lcal days of friction between the
great Allies" and pointed out that
Premier Stain considered the agree
ment recently reached between Ivan
Subasic, Premier of King Peters
Yugoslavia government in London,
and Tito's government in Belgrade
as, "on the whole, to be wise"
Mr.. Churchill said the Yugoslav
stalemate between King Peter and
the Tito-Subasic faction would have
to be decided 'in a matter of days"
IF we were not so unfortunate as
not to be able to obtain the consent
of King Peter, the matter would
have to go ahead, his assent being
presumed, he warned.
The Prime Minister presumably
referred to the Tito-SubaSic@ plan
for creation of regency in Yugo-
slavia, against which King Peter is
baking
Mr.. Churchill said he understood
Peters point of view" in attempt
ing to avoid complications before
plebiscite on whether Yugoslavia
wished to be monarchy or a re-
public, but he asserted firmly:
"Scruples must be respected but
cannot necessarily in these times
indefinitely prevent the march of
events"
Wants Fair Plebiscite.
In Greece, Mr. Churchill said,
Britain is guided by a policy of
victory against the Germans, and
had given support to the most
coherent and substantial govern
ment machine that could be found. -
He said England was seeking main
tenance of law and order to be
followed by a fair plebiscite and
election "and then exit at the earl
lest possible moment
Discussing the British and Amer
lcan press, Mr.. Churchill said never
before in his experience had the
British government been so ma
llgned and its motives so traduced
in our own country by important
organs Of the press and among our
own people"
How can we wonder, still less how
can we complain of the attitude of
hostile or Indifferent newspapers in
the United States" he said, when
we have in this country witnessed
such a melancholy exhibition as
that provided by some of our time
honored and responsible journals
and others to which such epithets
could hardly apply?'
Mr.. Churchill said he never was
more sure in mind and conscience"
of the motives that lay behind Brit
aims actions in Greece.
He said the ELIAS were Com
munist- directed and were simply
taking our arms, lying low and
awaiting the moment when they
could seize power and make Greece
a Communist state with a totali-
tartan liquidation of all opponents. :"
Assails Trotskyites.
Accusing the EAM and its ELIAS
organization of throwing sand in
the wheels of government" Mr.
Churchill charged "the Communists
in Greece whom we had furnished
with arms to fight the Germans and
Italians planned to seize power and
the Greek state once we withdrew.
Mr.. Churchill clearly indicated
that he considered Trotskyites rather
than Moscow Communists to be re-
sponsible, and asserted:
For three or four days it was a
| struggle to prevent a hideous mas
sacre in the center of Athens in
which all forms of government
would have been swept away and
naked triumphant Trotskyism would
have been established.
1t was only "by the skin of our
teeth" and the resolution of hand
full of British soldiers that Athens
II and Greek freedom were
saved" he declared.
The Greek regent, Archbishop
Damaskinos, Mr.. Churchill said, had
invited Representatives of EAM-
or what is left of EAM and of ELIAS
Ito come and meet him." Repeat
ing that Britain wanted nothing
from Greece but her friendship,
Mr.. Churchill insisted, however
that I'VE cannot disentangle our
selves from Greece after what has
happened until there can be a
free vote or guarantee for a free
vote under the most stringent and
impartial supervision.
/ Whatever Is decided-monarchy OF
lrepublic-"will be their law as far
as we are concerned" he added.
Revealing split within the EAM-
! EFT r.iL