Evening star., 1947-07-26
Plea abyGreece
For u. 5. Troops
Held Possible
TsoIdoris Says Move
Depends on U. N. and
Course of Conflict
By Gornett D. Horner

An eventual appeal for direct
help of American soldiers in
Greece's war against Commu-
nist-supported guerrillaS could
happen" Greek Foreign Minister
Constantin Tsaldaris said to-
day.
This is not a question, at least
at this moment, to be touched on
by me- he said in an interview, but
it is possibility that could happen"
After series of unpublicized talks
with Government officials and con-
gressional leaders here this week,
Mr. Tsaldaris was returning to New
York today to be on hand for a
United Nations Security Council
showdown on the Greek case next
week.
Possibility of American soldiers
taking direct hand in the fighting
in Greece has not yet been dis
cussed or faced" he said.
American officials, while believing
the Greek government would like to
have the support of United States
combat troops, also said the possi-
bility had not been discussed. There
are about 5000 British troops in
Greece but they are scheduled to
be withdrawn and are taking no
part in the present conflict.
s15O, 100000 for Greek Army.
Under present plans. half of the
S300000,000 voted by Congress for
military and economic aid to Greece
is to be devoted to strengthening
the Greek armed forces.
Administration spokesmen as
sured Congress during consideration
of the Greek turkish aid measure
that there was no present intention
of sending combat troops to either
country.
An amendment expressly stipu-
lating that the aid authorized would
not include armed, organized mill
tary units to serve as occupational
or combat troops" was defeated by
the House, however.
Sponsors of the aid bill said they
saw no objection to the amendment
because of State Department assur-
ances that no such action was con-
templated anyway. But it was voted
down after Representative Cox.
Democrat, of Georgia, told the
House that if the program was not
military in nature it was "a cheat
and a swindle"
In any event, 1t would appear
extremely doubtful that the admin
istration would take any direct mill
itary action in Greece without
further consultation with Congress.
Course Depends on U. N. Action.
Mr.. Tsaldaris said his country
might need stronger military assist
ance" If the U. N. Security Council
does not take effective" action to
shut off support to guerrilla att
tackers from Russia's Balkan sdtel-
lites.
An American proposal that the
Security Council set up an IL
member commission to watch over
Greece's borders with Albania, Bull
garia and Yugoslavia is bitterly op-
posed by the Soviet, amid strong
indications that the three Balkan
states would refuse to cooperate
with the commission even If it is
set up
Mr.. Tsaldaris said that if for any
reason the Security Council is unable
to produce solution effective to
bring peace, then 1t Is certain a
local power must bring it," This
local power, he said, is Greece. But
the threat to peace involves all the
western powers, he added.
I'VE have obligations to each
other, the same as in the war" he
said. Greece is not out of the war.
You must remember that since 1910
until now, Greece has been in a
state of war-whether declared or
undeclared war makes no difference
to the men who have been fighting
against totalitarianism for seven
years.
Fighting TOtalitarianism.
Albania, Yugoslavia and Bulgaria
are under totalitarian systems. Our
soldiers had the pleasure of fighting
German and Italian totalitarianism.
Now they have the same job to do
fighting other totalitarian govern.
mentS.'
Declaring that the Greek Army
has been doing duty in the COM
y r;r Il
must be strengthened" if a politi-
cal solution through the Security
Council does not work.
He pointed out that better organ
ization, training and equipment,
envisaged under the American aid
program, would make Greece's pres
ent armed strength much more
(See GREECE, Page A-21