Evening star., 1947-07-04
Faults of. Democracy
Beset Greek Regime,
Americans Discover
BY Russell Barnes
North American h.w.pep.r AIIlane.


ATHENS, July Awhile Com
munists charge the present Greek
government is a tyrannical, Fas-
cist monarchy. Americans who have
been looking it over declare on the
contrary that the Greek regime is
weak and inefficient and suffers
from too many of the traditional
faults of democracy.
Americans are popular now in
Greece, but If the American eco
nomic and political mission exc
cutes reforms that have been rec
commended, the United States is
certain to be bitterly criticized for
interference in Greek internal af-
fairs.
The screams will most likely come
from conservative elements, which
have been getting away with tax
evasions, export of capital. import
of luxury goods and capitalization
of political privileges.
OOVCIH"Cuk 1HCI1CIcnt.
Protests also will probably arise
from ranks of government workers
because merican investigators
have found the Greek offlcial ma
chine so overstaffed with inefficient
employees, many of them political
appointees, that the Greek govern
ment is falling down on even such
rudimentary jobs as the collection
of taxes and control of exports and
imports of capital and goods.
The kind of house-cleaning
Americans recommend would not
only draw charges of American in
reference in Greek affairs. but
would also probably swell the ranks
of Communist sympathizers. New
ertheless, in the American view
Greece cannot be put on her feet
economically unless governmental
administration is frightened up all
along the line.
1t is easy to criticize Greek mana
gement-no government could look
good struggling with so many short
ages and problems.
Problems Listed.
Communist raids across the
northern Greek frontier force the
government to maintain huge Sc
curity forces, drive refugees back
on southern areas, reduce food pro-
duction and encourage the flight oi
Greek capital abroad. In addition
the Athens government must wrestle
with these problems:
Reconstruction of railroads, ports
highways, bridges, public utilities
and housing wrecked by Italians
Germans and BIlgarians during
four years of fighting an enemy
occupation;
Supply of livestock, farming equip.
ment, seeds and fertilizer to permit
the peasants to restore food pro.
duction:
Replenishment of national capita
exhausted by war, devastation anc
imitation;
Care of 1000, 900 indigents and wal
victims-almost one out of every
seven Greeks;
Drought Cut Production.
Two years of drought, which have
not only cut food production, but
discouraged farmers:
Finding of foreign exchange Il
cover imports of food and othel
necessities;
Holding the drachma against
further disastrous initiation.
The Greeks agree that govern.
mental reforms are necessary-tha
is why they have invited the Ameri'
can economic and political mission
to come in. But sooner or latel
there is bound to be a showdown
between the American mission ane
Greek politicians.
To a considerable degree. Greel
politics conform to the Orienta
rather than the Western pattern
A Greek politician keeps himsel.
in power by taking care of his fol-
lowers and financial supporters.
Crowds jam Office.
For example, the office of Greel
minister responsible for a major
department of government tends tt
become his political headquarters
Crowds of followers jam his innel
office and hang around corridors
outside.
The minister is under constan
pressure to give jobs and gran
favors, many of them affecting ma
| tional interest. Unless he hold
his personal following together, h
is through politically. Any efficient
orderly transaction of national busi
ness under such circumstances i
obviously difficult.