Evening star., 1949-08-14

difference in the first instance
but curtailment of their forced
recruiting methods, due to the
shrinkage of areas under their
control, has even more serious
long term implications.
The withdrawal of Tito from
the Soviet orbit had an immediate
effect. Little by little the long
Greek frontier was
transformed from an avenue OF
refuge behind which the guerrillas
previously had retreated, rested.
regrouped and prepared new
sallies into Greek territory into
hostile barrier against which
Communist units could be pinned
and destroyed by nationalist
forces. Scattered units which
have followed the previous prac-
tice of crossing the border into
Yugoslavia repeatedly have been
disarmed in recent weeks.
The Tito default has had q
secondary effect on guerrilla sup
plies. When Yugoslavia func-
toned as a member of the Soviet
bloc it was both a point OF origin
and a corridor for transit OF sup
plies either directly to points OF
harassment on the Greek from
tier or to Albania. Today AL
bania is isolated from its satellite
companions. A relative trickle OF
supplies, destined for the guerril-
las, now reaches the Albanian
staging area" by air from Czecho-
slovakia with the rest coming cir
cautiously by sea from either
Gdynia in Russian-d dominated Po-
land or from Soviet ports on the
Black Sea. Even for a "two-bit
war;" these supply routes are not
fulsome.
Bulgaria, also possessed of a
long frontier with Greece, has
never been an important factor
in directly supplying the guerrillas.
and Greek nationalist control OF
the land strip south of this bor-
der has been relatively secure.
| Situation Promising
While as of today Tito's an
tipathy toward Moscow may be a
critical factor in our political and
military rehabilitation of Greece.
our policy and efforts there for
the past two years may inversely
be considered of great value to
the Yugoslav dictator. Certainly
! if we had let Greece sink or
swim by itself when the British
announced their intention of sur
rendering responsibility in 1947
the result would have been an
easy conquest for communism.
In such circumstances, Yugoslavla
would have been well surrounded
by satellites of Moscow and in
much more vulnerable position as
far as resistance to the Kremlin
is concerned. Turkey, too, would
have been outflanked and probably
would have been a target for far
greater pressures than have thus
far been exerted against it.
If the frightened prospects Of
today mean that Greece is soon
to be permanently secured as a
free and independent nation the
effect might easily spread beyond
the strengthening of anti-Soviet
Turkey and Yugoslavia. Reports
from both Bulgaria and Romania
indicate that they have been
somewhat stirred by Tito's defec-
ton and his ability to defy the
Kremlin. While both countries
are tightly controlled at the mo-
ment by hand-picked heutenants
of Moscow there are indications
that the price Of their continued
subjection will be higher rather
than lower. Neither are self-suf-
ficient economically or militarily
and if they are to remain in
definitely behind an iron curtain
they must draw sustenance from
within that sphere.
It is situation of some prom
Use, aptly fitting a careful phrase
used last week by Henry Grady,
United States Ambassador to
Greece, in discussing the Greek
problems with members of Con-
gress. There are, Mr.. Grady told
the legislators, growing and more
overt divergences within the camp
of Communist nations"
Economic Progress Noted
This same tone of reserved OPP
timism, incidentally, was present
throughout Mr.. Grady's entire
presentation in support of the
pending military assistance pro-
gram and the Greek effort in
particular.
while there are many prob
lens yet to be overcome" MIR.
Grady said, "the request for con-
tinuation of military aid to
Greece comes at moment when
the outlook for the successful con-
clusion of the campaign against
the guerrillas is the most opti-
mistic since the inception of the
program.
The American Ambassador also
found time during his consulta-
tions in Washington over the past
two weeks to speak encouragingly
of the economic progress in
Greece as well as that on the
military and political fronts. Re-
ferring to the four-year recovery
plan Of that country, Mr.. Grady
specifies the following:
Drastic taxes have been i'm
posed. especially on the wealthier
classes, and fiscal reforms have
been carried through. Recon-
struction projects have gone
ahead as rapidly as possible. I'm
provements have been made in
the distribution of supplies. The
first concrete steps have been
taken in a program to decentral-
ize Greek government functions
which hitherto have been too
cloco1y cop6pod u,ifbi,, the Atbops