Evening star., 1947-03-13
Reaction
Continued From First Page.)

ried out in line with their pledges" !"
In Istanbul, Premier Recep Peker
of Turkey said the Presidents
American and human speech" in
dicated the United States had
awakened to the world situation.
The Premier said he believed the
speech reflected American public
opinion in a day when security was
no longer local problem.
Mr.. Truman's message to joint
session of Congress yesterday was
discussed today at the British cabi-
nets regular weekly meeting, Off
cial sources disclosed.
These sources said Defense Min
lister A. v. Alexander and Field
Marshal Lord Montgomery, chief of
the imperial general staff, would
meet with their advisers shortly
to study the short-range and long
range implications of active Ameri-
can participation in the Mediter-
ranean.
Imperfecti0ns Not Denied.
Replying to questions from Eu-
ropean correspondents, the foreign
office spokesman said Britain was
conscious of the "imperfections" ST
the Greek government mentioned by
the President, and never had de-
MED the existence of imperfections.
A correspondent asked him that
If Russia intervened in Paraguay's
current army rebellion, would that
be comparable to American "inter-
vention" in Greece and Turkey.
The spokesman retorted that "the
question is hypothetical
He said he could not state now
whether the United States had
asked Britain specifically to retain
troops in Greece until American
instructors completed reorganiza-
tion and strengthening of the Greek
Army. Britain, he added, proposed
to continue reducing the number
Of her troops in Greece, now esti-
mated at $1,000, and to complete
the withdrawal "as soon as prao-
ticable."
Labor Party sources said Foreign
Secretary Bevin last month. told
private meeting of the Parlia-
mentary Labor Party that all Brit
ish troops would be out of Greece
by June.
War Debts Written Off.
In the Is months ending March
81, Britain will have granted Greece
$72,000,000 for the maintenance of
the army, $44, 10000 for the pur-
chase of military equipment, and
loan of $40,0000O0 for sterilization
Of Greek currency, the spokesman
said. In addition, he said, about
s184,0O0,000 worth of war debts were
wiped off the books.
Aid to Turkey. the spokesman
said. included a 1899 loan of $780,
100000 in gold and ornaments
credits of $100,000,00O to help sustain
Turkeys army of 100000 men.
France, he said. was party to the
armaments credit, but after June,
1910, was unable, to fulfill her COM
mitments, so that Britain provided
the bulk of the loan.
The spokesman said he knew
nothing of reported intention of
the United States to make a new
loan to Hungary.
Serious Russian View Expected.
Eddy Gilmore, chief of the AssoGi-
ated Press Bureau in Moscow, said
that when the Russians speak on
the American stand in the Balkans,
1T is to be expected that President
Truman's request for $400, 900, 900 to
aid Greece and Turkey will be
branded here as United States inter-
ference in the internal affairs of
other nations"
Russians unquestionably will take
a serious view of the American Pres
ident's proposal" Mr.. Gilmore's
Moscow dispatch said. "It can be
said that no single action by the
United States in many months, per-
haps years, has caused such concern
among the Russians as this one will.
It is sure to be regarded as aimed at
Russia"
Communist circles in Greece ex-
pressed no pleasure at the proposal
and London's Communist Daily
Worker declared fatty that the real
purpose Of the United States sis to
save the tottering rulers of Greece
and the dictators of Turkey and
to drive back the advancing forces
OF democracy"
The Worker said President Tru-