Evening star., 1947-08-10
3 THE SUNDAY STAR, Washington, D. c.
9z
U. 5. ReportedIy Told
British Troops Won't
Leave Greece Soon
BY John N. Hiehtower
Assoeiofed Press StoH Writer

Assoeiofed Press Stoff Writer
Great Britain was reported by
diplomatic authorities yesterday to
have reassured the United States
that British troops will not be
pulled hastily out of Greece, de-
spite earlier plans to withdraw them
by autumn.
The British force there is small,
numbering only about 5000 men,
but both American and British off,
cials regard its presence as sta
bilizing factor in Greece.
Fresh rumors that it would be
withdrawn as part OF Britain's
economy campaign were described
authoritatively here as at least
partly responsible for an increase
in popular jitters in Greece recently.
This nervous situation was reflected
in reports from Athens that the
money market there had showed
a rise in the value of the gold
sovereign. Observers in Athens de-
scribe this as the usual forerunner
Of a governmental crisis.
U. S. Aims at Preventing Crisis.
American policy in stemming
communism in Greece appears to
be aimed at preventing any kind
of crisis, certainly in the period
during which the American assist
ance program to Greece is being
set up by Administrator Dwight P.
Griswold.
Rumors about the withdrawal of
British troops-rumors which ac-
tually were in line with previous
British policy statements-were said
by officials here to be only one of
various factors disturbing the Greek
political situation and complicating
the task before Mr.. Griswold.
Other upsetting influences include
% the Russian veto late last month
of the American proposal to create a
United Nations Greek Border Com
mission and (2) persistent reports
that Greece's Communist neighbor
states have some sort Of tnterna-
tional brigade ready to 60 into action
at the proper moment.
Brigade Reports Not Discounted.
The brigade reports are not dis
counted by American officials
although none has ever come for
ward publicly with evidence of the
actual existence of such an organiza-
ton. Speculation here is that If
such an organization does exist 1t
might be used at some point in an
effort to capture enough Greek terri
tory for the Greek Communists to
allow them to set up a provisional
Communist government.
The question of withdrawal OF
British troops has been coming to
a head for months. Originally the
British announced that they in
tended to get their troops out OF
Greece "as soon as possible" Early
in the year this was generally taken
by authorities to mean that the
withdrawal would be completed by
fall and some said the troops ac-
tually would all be out in August.
Following the veto action by the
Russians, but evidently through CO.
incidence rather than design In
timing. British authorities here re-
affirmed to the State Department
their intention to get their troops
out as soon as it could be arranged.
Held Hurtful to Stability.
DIPLOMATS familiar with this de-
velopment said the implication was
that the action would be taken
promptly. The American reaction
to this move was described as un-
favorable.
The United States repeatedly took
the position that the proposed with
drawal would be quite hurtful to
efforts to develop real political sta
bility under the American Greek
aid program.
officials were reluctant to disclose
exactly what commitments the hard
pressed British government would
make on the subject in view of
Prime Minister Attlee's intension to
reduce overseas forces for economic
reasonsN All indications are now,
however, that the British troops will
not be coming out of Greece soon.
British informants said that the
London government would follow
most responsible policy in this
respect and cited as an additional
example the fact that the British
do not intend to reduce their forces
In the Trieste area except by agree
ment of the combined British
American chiefs of staff.
The British governments general
plan Of cutting down overseas forces
has not caused any apparent con-
cern on the part Of American officials
except as it might upset military or
psychological balances in Greece
and in the Trieste area. In both
places the feeling of authorities here
Is that the Communist countries of
southeastern Europe probably would
take quick advantage of any evi-
dence Of weakening western power
in those two places.