Evening star., 1948-03-11
Conditions in Greece
Worse Than Year Ago,
Correspondent Finds
By John Leococos
North Amsricon Nswspoper Ailiunss

ATHENS, Mar. 11.-One year
after President Truman stated his
famed doctrine Greece is almost
worse of than ever before.
It may have been the cold, over
cast sky but when this correspon-
dent stepped of a plane in Athens,
after nearly years absence, he
was Immediately struck by the
changed air of the people-less
laughter, observation-disclosures, almost
"a gloomy sobriety.
A quick round of inquiries pro-
duced concrete evidence that Greece
appears to have gone from bad to
worse despite the sheltering Amer
ican wing.
Today there is open hate and
bitterness In Greece; a year ago
you would have called it impatience
and annoyance. There are now an
estimated $4,000 guerrillas; there
used to be $4,000. Refugees formerly
trickled into the big towns: now
there are nearly 10000. their care
an expense of 1,000, ,000, 900 drachmas
a day.
Army Morale Low.
Soldiers of the regular Greek
army have not had a days leave
in two years and have not stacked
arms for eight. Families more and
more resent the continual callups
of their breadwinners for military
service. They begin to mutter why
doesn't the government end the
civil war or come to terms with the
guerrillas.
Two million Greeks live on gov
ernment charity. Counting state
employees, police and the military,
almost third of the Greek nation
of 100000 subsists on government
funds. More are added every day,
not only from those fleeing guerrilla
devastations, but from the Amer
ican- n-inspired. deflationary, eco
nomic reforms.
The American Mission for Aid to
Greece, trying to help chain the
rampant initiation, asks that the
surplus be trimmed of the civil
service rolls of 10000. The Greeks
promise to do sway with $1,000.
Actually, only 5000 are let 60. This
improves the national budget but
also deprives those fred of their
livelihood. And it. does not make
Americans popular.
Example Offered.
To cite a case within my knowl-
edge, one man recently fired from
a 1000 O-drachma-a- day job (about
30 cents) cannot find another. Now
he has been approached by Com
munist agent and offered six gold
pieces worth 100000 drachmas)
plus guaranteed" allowances for
his family If he will join the guer-
rillas in the mountains. The poor
devil Is still trying to make up his
mind
The standard economic indexes
have the old, familiar ring. The
Greek gold-sovereign rate is now
230, 900 drachmas, compared with
1923, 900 last March. The black mar
ket dollar is 1850, the legal rate l!
$500. Note circulation has jumped
from soc, ,000, 900, 600 to 900, ,00o, 900,
600. The wholesale-commodity pric'
index OF the Bank Of Greece
%, 500, compared with 1900 las
year.
To get the United States reform
through the Greek parliament Is
one-to three-month nightmare. I
everybody's relief. parliament ha
Just reluctantly voted itself a two
month recess, During virtually tn
entire month of February, tn
chamber did not pass single piec
of legislation.
Instead, the deputies engaged Il
nonstop critique of the govern
ment for the Army's alleged failur
to protect the villages Of the depu
ties constituents. Cabinet minister
had to attend sessions often lastinj
till dawn to answer attacks fron
their own party members as well
while administrative work Of tn
government slowed to crawl. l
was democracy gone haywire
though in Greece the same thint
used to happen $500 years ago IL
the citizen assemblies of the ancien
Athenian agora or market place.