Evening star., 1946-08-28
Soviet ENJOYS Move
To Quit Greece Adds
To Plebiscite turmoil
BY the Associated Press

pending departure of Admiral X.
K. Rodionov, Russian Ambas-
sador to Greece, complicated the
diplomatic turmoil in which this
nation found itself today on the
eve of plebiscite expected to re-
turn King George II to his throne.
Admiral Rodionov applied to the
government last night for visa
enabling him to leave the country,
thus capping a week of diplomatic
Developments. including the de-
parture of Isador Cankar, Yugoslay
Ambassador to Greece; a formal
charge by the Ukraine before the
U. N. Security Council that Greece
is endangering peace, and the
Forthcoming visit Of an American
naval force.
The unexpected announcement Of
Admiral Rodionov's departure with
his family was made without any
omcial explanation, but left-wing
circles said his presence In Greece
during Sundays plebiscite and the
almost certain return of the King
would be incompatible with the
Soviet position on the Greek regime
Silent on Recall.
An attache at the Soviet Embassy
said q charge d'affaires would re-
main in charge there during Ad-
miral Rodionov's absence. He re-
fused to say whether the Ambas-
sador had been recalled by Moscow
The Greek Foreign Office said
nomination of charge d'affaires
would be interpreted as meaning
that no break in diplomatic rela-
tions between Russia and Greece
was intended by Admiral Rodionov's
departure.
Commenting on reports that the
Soviet envoy had been recalled, the
Foreign Office said there was Moth
ing in its intercourse with the am
bassador which would indicate such
action, but said it was unable to
make definite statement.
The Foreign Office added, how
ever, that in the event no charge
dana1res was nominated by Russia,
1t could be presumed that relations
between the two countries had been
broken. Admiral Rodionoy has an
appointment to see the acting for
eign minister tomorrow and sources
IN the Foreign Office said it was
likely he was calling to make known
the name of the charge d'affaires
nominee.
The announcement that the Unit
ed States was sending. the mighty
carrier Franklin D. Roosevelt. a
cruiser and several destroyers to call
at Greek ports was regarded here
as a conclusive indication of Amer
lean support for Greece in the cur
rent diplomatic tussle.
Stephanos Stephanopoulos. the
Acting Foreign Minister, said Ad-
mlral Rodionov had requested exit
visas for himself, his wife and
daughter, but had not requested re-
turn visas. Only the day before Mr..
Stephanopoulos said the Ambas-
sador had complained about anti
Soviet articles in Greek newspapers
ana the banning Of Russian motion
pictures in some districts.
Two editors of a Royalist news
paper were convicted last night Of
publishing what the court termed
libeilous statements about Russia
and Prime Minister Stain. Both
were sentenced to seven months in
jail on the charges, which were in
stituted by the government.
When Marshal Tito summoned
Cankar home last week, at the
height of the American Yugoslay
dispute over the downing Of two
American planes, Mr.. Cankar said
MS return was prompted by Greek
monarchist press attacks on Mar
shall Tito and the Yugoslav govern
ment. Diplomatic relations between
Greece and Yugoslavia have not
been severed.
Earlier Action Recalled.
The impending visit of the Amer
1can naval force in Greek waters
recalled the earlier American action
OF sending home the body of the
late Turkish Ambassador to Wash
ington on the big battleship Mis-
|souri-a trip which coincided with
the first hints that Russia wanted
to share with Turkey the control
of the strategic Dardanelles.
A force of 10000 to 10000 British
troops already is in Greece ane
light warships have been making
periodic calls at Greek ports.
The royalist Populist party nov
in power says the return of Kine
George II, who has been in exile
since he was forced to flee before
the advancing Nazis in 194l, would
solve Greek problems in nationa
unity, but the opposition, including
the extreme left which will par
ticipate in the plebiscite, disagrees
violently.
diplomatic sources in London
| described the current situation
IN Greece as a diplomatic tug
of-war to determine whether
Greece falls into the Russian
orbit or remains the Western
Allies sole toehold in the Bal
| kanS.)
| U. s. Lukewarm on King.
| A high-ranking member of a mis-
sion just returned from the United
States told intimates last night that
the United States state Department
is lukewarm on the return of the
King, whiles the British attitude Is
said to be that the Greeks should
be permitted to make their own,
orderly choice Of whatever regime
they desire.
The departure of Admiral Rod
ionov emphasized the troubled
state of Soviet Greek relations,
which last spring resulted in the
filing of charge by Russia be-
fore the United Nations that Great
Britain was endangering world
peace by interfering with internal
affairs in Greece.
Communists, both inside and out
side the country. have charged that
the Greek government Is now carry
ing on a reign of terror" against
| tho Creek C0nonnl,r,ist Yortu and