Evening star., 1947-08-26

BY the Asseeioted Press
ATHENS, Aug. 26.-American
efforts to mediate the deadlock
in the Greek governmental crisis
failed today when Themistokles
Sopnoulis, leader of the main
branch of the Liberal Party, in
sisted that he become Premier.
Constantin Tsaldaris, premier
designate, had been trying for three
days to form new government
Mr.. Sophoulis, So, had been one of
the main obstacles to success be-
cause of his steadfast refusal to
enter q coalition cabinet to solve
the current cricis.
American Ambassador Lincoln
MacVeagh conferred with Mr.. So
phoulis during the morning.
Neutral Politician Proposed.
Mr.. Tsaldaris said after leaving
the Commute mediation conference
that he had proposed neutral poll
tician for Premier, but that Mr..
Sophoulis rejected the idea, propos-
ing instead that he (Sophoulis) as
sumo leadership Of the state and
that his party take the portfolios of
war, justice and public order.
Mr.. Tsaldaris said he would pro-
ceed with his own plans for form
ing government.
He heads the Populist (RoyansO
Party, which ranked first in the
elections March 81, 1916. He appar-
emily would be limited on a parlia-
mentary vote of confidence in a new
government to the support of his
own party, the Nationalist Party of
Gen. Napoleon Zervas with Is men,
bers of Parliament and reformists
under Apostle Alexandris with four.
May Have Half Representatives.
He probably could rely on seven
votes controlled by the extreme
rightest, Theodore Turcovassilis,
making a total of 1T. This is ex-
actly half the representatives.
In the event a Tsaldaris cabinet
failed to get vote of confidence,
King Paul constitutionally must in
trust formation of another to the
largest minority party, which at
present is Mr.. Sophoulis' Liberal
Party.
However, usually reliable sources
said q new parliamentary leader,
Spiro Markezinis, SO, had engineered
an agreement with chiefs of the
National Unionists, the Social Dem
ocrats and Venizelos Liberals for
formation of a bloc under single
man in Parliament to claim the
largest minority. This bloc would
have Sc representatives, compared
to the 48 of Mr. Sophoulas' party.
Griswold Sees sophoulis.
Dwight P. Griswold, administra-
tor of the American aid program in
Greece. called on Mr. Sophoulis at
mis- home last night and an author
itative source said he had stressed
the need for political unity if the
American mission is to succeed.
This informant said no pressure"
was put on Mr.. Sophoulis, but that
Mr.. Griswold urged him to help
achieve some solution of Mr., Tsal-
daris' problem.
In reply. the informant said Mr..
Sophoulis intimated that he would
be willing to give Mr.. Tsaldaris'
Populist Party most of the cabinet
posts if Mr.. Sophoulis himself were
named premier. The government of
Premier Demetrois Maximos COL
lapsed last Saturday.
Mr.. Sophoulis was said to have
informed Mr.. Griswold that he was
the only person in Greece whose
name and influence could persuade
a majority of the Greek guerrillas to
surrender under amnesty conditions.
GuerilIas Are Active.
While the political leaders wrestled
over formation of a new govern
ment in Athens, widespread guer-
rilla activity was reported in North
ern Greece.
One press report said 100 civilians
were seized and taken into Bulgaria
in a raid on nine villages in the
Orestias area between Turkish and
(See GREECE, Page A-6)