Evening star., 1946-02-01
Moscow PeriIs
Peace Of World, F,
bevin Charges
Briton Demands Thot
UNO Give Verdict on
Troops in Greece

by the Associated PreSS.
LONDON, Feb. Foreign
Secretary Bevin told the United
Nations Security Council today
that Moscow and Communist
party propaganda" endangered
world peace. This, he said, was
"the real danger" to peace.
Mr.. Bevin made this statement in
blasting back at Russian charges
that Britain imperiled world security
by maintaining troops which, the
Soviet said, supported Fascist and
pro-Monarchist elements in Greece
Mr.. Bevin demanded straight
yes or no" verdict from the Council
on the Russian charge.
Countering the charges of Soviet
Vice Commissar Andrei VishinSky
that white terror" exists in
Greece, Mr.. Bevin said British troops
had supported the right of all fac
tions to voice in Greek affairs and
had refrained from imposing on the
country a minority government.
Let Greeks Have Own Regime.
eve could have done what Mr.
| Vishinsky did in Romania," he said
I'VE could have put a minority gov
ernment in-we had the power But
we did not. We let the Greeks have
their own government. We believe
that democracy must come from the
bottom up, not from the top"
Thanassis Aghnides, Greek Am
bassador to London. spoke imme-
diately after Mr.. Bevin.
Il state categorically that the
British have not intervened in the
| internal affairs of Greece at any
time" he said. THE Greek govern
ment regards the continued presence
of British troops in Greece as in
dispensable to keep order and get
political stability"
He said there was no threat to
border countries, such as Yugoslav-
Ia, Albania and Bulgaria, from
Greek policies.
The council then adjourned until
Monday.
Russia, through Mr.. Vishinsky,
argued for an hour before the Coun-
Gil that British forces were "con-
tributing to disorder" in Greece. He
said the Soviet Union demanded
quick and unconditional withdrawal
of the troops.
Mr.. Bevin responded that the
real danger to the peace of the
world today was the "incessant
propaganda from Moscow with no
sign of friendship"
This incessant suspicion is the
danger Mr.. Bevin asserted. "I ask
for straight verdict-have we been
endangering the peace?'
Pounding the table to emphasize
an otherwise calmly delivered speech,
Mr.. Bevin said he wanted from the
Security Council a direct declara-
ton, not compromise" on the
question
Mr.. Vishinsky disclosed that the
Russian complaint was not the first
time 1t had been made. He said the
question had been brought up at
meetings of the powers at Berlin,
London and Moscow last year.
Cites Past Satisfaction.
Mr.. Bevin argued that both Pre-
mier Stain and Foreign Commissar
Molotov had expressed themselves
in the past as satisfied" with the
situation. He said even though
Britain had treaty of friendship
with Russia, Russia never raised the
Greek question or expressed through
diplomatic channels the view stated
by Mr.. Vishinsky today.
Britain's obligation in Greece. he
said, was to maintain order and
help, with assistance of the United
States and France, to hold fair cleo
tions, now scheduled for March.
When these obligations are dis
charged, he said, British troops will
be withdrawn.
An Allied country is entitled to
have troops in another country if it
is invited" Mr. Bevin said. IF the
Greek government decided they did
not want us, we would make no
effort to impose ourselves.
On the contrary, he said, when
the question of withdrawal of Brit
ish forces came up in the past
(See ITNO pooo A 10Y