Evening star., 1947-04-13

country. in large cities as well as
rural settlements.
One reason Greece cannot survive
without outside help Is that the
ELIAS bands-strong arm OF the
Moscow controlled Fam (National
Liberal Front)-are operating all
over the country, cutting commune
cations and making normal eco
nomic activity impossible.
Protection Guaranteed.
Although these bands are in open
rebellion against the government,
they demand at the same time all
the constitutional protection guar
anteed to law-abiding citizens.
Because economic life is stagnant,
party politics have become the most
popular ayocation of the Greek
people. There are 20 ofncially rec
ognized parties, according to latest
available figures. Some, like the
most reactionary Of the national
lists, have no representation in Par
Lament because they could not OBJ
tain SUFFICIENT popular support.
The Communists and their four
affiliates did not present them
selves at the polls for strategic rea-
sons dictated to them by Moscow.
BY refusing to put up candidates at
the last elections they created
abroad the impression that Parlia-
ment was not representative Of the
people.
Privileges for Reds.
Outside these official parties there
are a number OF political groups
which are gaining support. Thus
the list of ~ parties cited above may
have to be revised soon to provide
for q number Of new parties.
The Communists have the same
rights and privileges as the other
organizations. There are Commu-
mist newspapers more violent than
the Daily Worker and the New
Masses. The Communist clubs hold
public meetings without any inter-
ference on the part of the authori-
ties, although their speakers urge
the public to act violently against
the crown, the government, the
church and any other bourgeois"
organization.
The majority Of cabinet members
would like to outlaw this Moscow
sponsored agitation. There is no
question that the present chamber
would vote Overwhelmingly in favor
of such bill. But the government
does not dare take such action for
fear 1t might provoke criticism in
Britain and the United States.
As in other countries outside the
irpn curtain, Greece is the scene OF
active Russian support for Moscow's
stooges. The government has VOLT
minous files which are said to con-
tain evidence Of such support.
Money From Outside.
Large quantities of precious stones
obtained from the looting Of Ger
many and Austria have been sold In
Egypt. The sums realized from
these sales are sent to Greece to aid
the fight for democracy" in the
Russian meaning of the word. The
Greek government claims to have
positive information about the gold
thus transferred, but can do nothing
about 1t since the gold and other
hard currency" consignments ar
rive in the diplomatic pouches OF
Russia or her satellites.
Accidents" have occurred when
some Of these pouches were being
passed by customs and the. contents
have been seen through tears in the
canvas. But Greece is in no posi-
ton to risk an actual diplomatic in
cident with the USsR or her pro-
teges.
American movies are much sought
after in Greece, but even old ones
are expensive in dollar exchange.
Russian films can be obtained
cheaply in Greek currency. Thus, in
the smaller Athens theaters and in
most of the shacks which pass for
movie houses in the smaller COM
"Sovfilms" are the public's
chief entertainment diet
The proceeds Of the rental Of these
films owned by the Russian govern
ment are paid into the EAM war
chest and are used to subsidize the
ELIAS fighters. OF course, the Rus
sian government does not appear
oficially in this transaction. A
Greek front company has been
(See BROWN, Page C-50