Evening star., 1947-07-07
u. 5. Gets Revelation
OF Russian Influence
In Greek Frontier War
By Phelps Adams
North American Newspaper Alliance

vigorously that the Soviet govern
ment is responsible IN any way for
the guerrilla activities being TO-
mented along the Greek border by
the Yugoslav, Albanian and Bulgar
governments, officials here no longer
entertain any doubt as to Muscovite
culpability on this score.
Members of the Balkan Investi-
eating Commission, sent by the
United Nations to inquire into the
border incidents, are ready not only
to pin full responsibility on the Rus
SLAMS, but to identify and describe
the two separate chains OF COM
mand through which political and
military orders are transmitted
from Moscow's politburo to Balkan
governments, and thence translated
into positive action along the Greek
frontier. .,
Now that investigating commits
sioners have returned from Greece
and reported to the Security Coun-
Gil, diplomatic circles here are hear
ing for the first time the full details
concerning the obstacles which
Russia placed in the path OF the
commission at every turn-details
contained nowhere In the report it.
self.
Influenced u. N. Secretariat.
The most surprising and shock
Ing disclosures which have reached
the capital reveal privately the
ability Of the Russian government
to influence and dominate the secre-
tariat Of the United Nations itself.
The first intimations Of Russian ef-
forts to sabotage the work of the
commission through its secretariat
came through published press re-
ports from Greece while the COM
mission was working there.
Stories described how documents
and important evidence disappeared
from the files OF commission mem
bers.
1t remained, however, for return
Ing commission members to disclose
the ultimate length to which Rus
sian-iniuenced members OF the
secretariat went in an effort to
create hostility against the Greek
government. The story, thoroughly
authenticated, is this:
The Greek government entered
into an agreement with the COM
mission under which the Greeks
promised to delay the execution OF
any guerrillas or other political
prisoners who might be wanted by
the commission to testify before it
Two Executions Investigated.
One night, two such prisoners
were executed by the Greeks, and
on the following morning member
OF the secretariat rushed before the
commission to demand that it adopt
resolution denouncing the Greek
government for its lack of co-opera-
ton and it's high-handed refusal to
let these two men give evidence
before that body. The member of
the secretariat declared that the
request for delaying the execution
had been sent to the Greeks "a
hours earlier.
Instead of adopting the resolu-
tion, however, the commission
decided to investigate first. 1t
questioned the Greek officials, the
messenger who had carried the re-
quest to Greek headquarters only
three blocks away from the COM
missions headquarters, and the
stenographer who had handed the
request to the messenger. The
evidence was conclusive.
It showed that the same member
of the secretariat who had de-
manded the passage Of the de-
nunciatory resolution deliberately
: had caused the execution Of the
two prisoners. Instead Of sending
the request "a hours earlier, as he
said he had, he had delayed it "a
hours. His secretary had given it
to the messenger within 2 minutes
after he had handed it over to her
The messenger had delivered it
promptly to the Greek authorities
but, with only minutes remaining
before the scheduled execution, 1t
was too late to stop it, because tele-
phone communication with the
prison had been severed by the
guerrillas. Two men thus lost their
lives-at least prematurely-because
an official of the United Nations
wanted to create enmity and ill-will
between the United Nations Com
mission and the government of q
member nation.
Incident in Ethridge Visit.
Another incident is recounted here
In connection with the two visits
which Mark F. Ethridge, American
member of the commission, made
to Bulgaria.
On his first visit, the Bulgar gov
eminent refused to permit Mr.
Ethridge to go out into the country
side without an escort, presumably
for his own protection. Mr.. Eth
ridge agreed to accept the escort
provided that no attempt would be
made by the man to spy on his
activities. This was agreed to, ano
8. young Bulgar officer was assigned
as aide to the American.
The officer was scrupulous IN OBJ
serving the terms and conditions
laid down by Mr.. Ethridge. When
ever they reached town where the
American wanted to interview some
natives, the man drove off in the car
to get gasoline, or upon some other
pretext, leaving Mr.. Ethridge entire
ly free. Actually, the officer never
knew the names of any persons to
whom the American spoke.
On his second visit to Bulgaria
Mr.. Ethridge sent for the officer
with whom he had become quite
friendly, and he was shocked when
he saw the tortured human wreck
confronting him. Inquiry revealed
that the moment the American hao
left the country, the police had ar
rested his aide and commanded thai
he reveal the names Of the persons
Mr.. Ethridge had seen on his tour
Since the officer did not know, he
truthfully could not say.
For six days and six nights hi:
inouisitors, working in shifts, ques'
toned him uninterruptedly, permit
ting him to have no sleep during
this entire time. When simple meth
ods of torture failed to keep hin