Evening star., 1947-03-16
Horner
Continued From Page C-1,)

ish keep some troops in Greece and
is asking congressional authority to
help equip and train the Greek
Army.
The civil war that broke out In
Athens in December, 1914, was
ended by truce agreement in mid
January, 1945 Some degree Of tran
quillity gradually was restored to
the country. ELIAS officially dis
banded, turning in some old arms
and ammunition. For more than
q year there was little or no organ
ized fighting. although isolated
bandit bands continued roaming
some sections.
The long promised elections were
held in Greece on March 81, 1916.
The United States, Britain and
France sent large missions In to
observe the elections. Russia de-
clined to participate. The EAM
boycotted the elections, urging peo-
pie to stay away from the polls.
Nevertheless. the Allied missions re-
ported that the voting was ION the
whole free and fair" and repre-
sented true and valid verdict of
the Greek people" They estimated
that If the leftist parties had taken
part they would have won not over
Is per cent of the Parliament seats.
The Populist (Royalist) Party won
a plurality, with seven minority
parties represented.
Civil Strife Renewed.
On last September /, after revi-
sion of the electoral lists as. rec
commended by the Allied missions.
the Greek people voted in a
plebiscite for the return of King
George II. After five years Of exile
he went back to Athens on Sep
tember % and intrusted formation
of a new government to Premier
Constantin Tsaldaris.
Meanwhile, civil strife was <re-
newed. Premier Tsaldaris charged
guerrilla bands fighting govern
ment forces received substantial
support from Russian dominated
Yugoslayia, Bulgaria and Albania.
A United Nations commission now
is in Greece investigat ting charges
of border violations by those
countries.
The Communist EAM
has assumed responsibility for the
guerrilla fighting in Greece by re-
Gently offering the government
truce on EAM terms. EAM is re-
garded by many American officials
as an instrument of Soviet policy.
Exactly what has happened to
EAM in the past two years Is not
clear. There is no question Of its
wide popularity among the Greek
people at the time of liberation.
Most American observers believe
that excesses committed by EAM
during the 1944-5 civil war resulted
in the loss of much of its earlier
popularity, and consequent increas-
ing favor for King George.
Obstacle to Economy.
Economic conditions, hi h
showed some improvement during
the year of comparative quiet, have
been set back by the renewed fight
ing. The worsening situation Is
blamed mostly on Communist
operations deliberately aimed at
creating chaos, although American
observers agree it has not been
helped by the partisan behavior Of
the dominantly Royalist govern
ment.
Continued political unrest obvi-
ously Is an obstacle to the war
devastated Greek economy. Aside
from such financial aid as this
country might give, drastic reforms
are considered necessary in the
Greek tax system, civil service and
financial controls to bring about
A basic requirement for any eco
nomic aid to be effective is estab-
lishment of the Greek governments
authority throughout the country.
It's army is unable to do that in the
face of the rebel bands without the
assistance asked from the United
States.
Extension of such help depends
on whether the attitude of Congress
toward direct American entangle-
ments in that part of the world has
undergone such fundamental
change from traditional policy as
evident in the White House and
State Department.