Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1946-11-23

If they all had the same view O
clearing the decks in Europe anc
proceeding with the major task Of
peace with Germany and the re.
construction of the Old World.
The treaties with Italy and the
minor satellites were drafted las
summer by the Big Four. The
world was told then that there
had been a real meeting of thu
minds and the other Allies were
summoned to a general peace con-
ference in Paris. After the usua
debates, which brought to th'
fore the fact that there was q
solid Slavic bloc opposing the west
ern democracies, the conferees pre-.
sented adequate blueprints for the
final inspection of the Big Four
These were in keeping with the
general outline established earlier
in the summer at Paris, and al
though not altogether to the liking
of the U. S. S. R., which had
changed its stand during the peace
conference, it was expected that
they would be confirmed by the
Big Four after possibly a few minor
changes.
Prophets Again Err.
Secretary of State Byrnes was sc
convinced that this would be the
case that he ordered his experts In
the State Department to be ready
to start with the German negotia-
lions not later than November 20
The Russian delegates, who had
been snarling at their western COL
leagues during the Paris Conference
became most engaging and courte-
GUS and so on as they set foot or
American soil. This change of man.
ners led many observers to believe
that Soviet Foreign Minister Molo-
tov and his deputy, Andrea Vishin-
sky, had received, on the high seas
q new set of instructions from the
Kremlin to expedite the peace treat
les, which had already been thor
oughly discussed and henceforth tc
lay emphasis on problems such as
a general disarmament, which would
assure real lasting peace to the
world.
But apparently the politica
weather prophets were once more
mistaken. The Russian representa-
tives in the Council of Foreign Min
listers and at the General Assembly
were pleasant good fellows. but did
not bulge much from their uncom-
promising positions.
In the meantime, the political
horizons in Europes storm ceffet ,
the Balkans, have become more
and more clouded and everything
points to an early storm.
In Greece the situation is in
creasingly alarming. For the time
being the military engagements be-
tween the government troops and
the unidentified guerrillas" are
not more than major skirmishes.
Although all governments are care
full not to identify officially the or
carnations which are making major
incursions into Greek territory, for
eign Offices and intelligence services
from Teheran to Washington and
Ottawa know that the "guerrillas'
are reconnaissance units of the
YugoSlav and Albanian armies pa
rading as Macedonian patriots.
Tanks and Planes Held Back.
For the time being only lightly
armed units are being employed
The time has not come yet when
tanks and airplanes are used In
these incursions. The Greeks have
managed to keep the upper hand
because they are using regular
forces against these guerrilla" units
whose only mission is to test the
strength of the Greek forces.
These raids, which sometimes
assume the character of regular
battles, are nerve-racking to the
Greek people. Economic conditions
among them are very bad. The gov
eminent hoped to improve them
with the assistance of its western
allies and a period of peace. But
instead of paying attention to the
recovery of its commerce and agri-
culture. the Athens government is
compelled to strain every effort to
meet the menace from across the
border.
The population lives in continu-
Gus panic. The small, but well-or-
ganized, Communist Party is doing
its bit by spreading the most fam
tastic rumors in all cities and vii
lagos, thus contributing to the al
ready panicky state of mind of peo-
pie who have been either at war OF
under ruthless German-Italian
domination for the last six years
and whose nerves are badly frayed
Greek Premier Constantin Tsal-
daris is exnected to come to New