Page
THE WAR MEMOIRS OF SIR WINSTON CHURCHILL
B
RITISH troops [re public
that the next day
There was
about
what might well have sisting a Commun- been, at that time, z awkward
bombshell, ist coup in Greece
It happened during December, the Trades Union Congress was 1944] were still fighting to meet in London, hard in the centre of naturally much
Brixiety Athens, hemmed in and our policy in Greece, and Left Wing forces were ustir. It seem- -outnumbered. We were en ed probable that the publication
in house-to-house of the drustle Tig༥l
terms of my combat with an enemy at message to Gen. Scobie would least four-fifths of whom produce a bad impression, How- ever the niotier was not men- were in plain clothes. Un-
Trades Union Tuncel at the
like many of the Allied Congress, nor indeed did it correspondents in Athens, attract any attention in Parlin- our troops had no difficulty inent.
in understanding the issues involved.
MIr Bevin
represented the War Cabinet at the Congress. and with characteristic loyally. Amid these tumults Field- and
he defended and courage Marshal Alexander and Mr vindicated our policy in Greces. [Harold] Macmillan [then He carried the whole conference Minister of State] arrived with him, and by
whelming uns gave their support to the majority the trade of their Government and proved once Lan their table and respon-
in Athens. We received the first reports
mission on Dec. 11.
.over-
Our plight was worse rible qualities in great matters. than
we
had expected.
Alexander telegraphed, "The British forces are in fuct
the beleaguered in heart of the city.” The road 10 the airfield
HAD awhile received ti most kindly worded telegram from the President, President Roosevelt
to Prime Minister was not
secure. We were not in can- trol of Piraeus harbour, so no ships could be unloaded there.
ONLY six days' «rations
serve
and three days re
of ammunition were left for the troops city. fighting in the
to Alexander proposed clear the port and the road to Athens at once, bring in immediate reinforcements from Italy, and build up
supply dumps, and, "having both linked up securely ends of the dumb-bell, to
undertake t.hu necessary operations whole of Piraeus."
clear the tá
Athens and
the
શ
He also pressed Leeper's [the British Ambassador] proposal to appoint Archbishop Damaskitos 14 Regent, and asked for stern measures against the rebels and permission to bomb areas inside Athens.
On Dec. 12 the War Cabinet gave Alexander free hand in all military measures. The 4th British Division, on passage from Italy to Egypt, was divert- ed, and their arrival during. the latter half of the month turned the scale. I told Alexander that the Greek King would not agree to the plan for a Regency. The suggestion that the Arch- bishop should be called up- on to form a Government satisfied no one. The political reaction at home to these events showed a clearer and calmer view.
AT this
13 Dec. 44 I have been as deeply con- cerned as you have yourself in regard to the tragle Sculties in have trull
encountered
to the Grecer. appreciate full the
anxious and, diMcuit alteratives with which you have been faced. I regard my role in this matter as that of a whose loyat friend and ally
'the'
trying
THE CHINA MAIL, SATURDAY, DECEMBER 5, 1953.
Field-Marshal Alexander reports from Athens:
"BRITISH
FORCES
ARE BELEAGUERED"
CHAPTER 19 OF "TRIUMPH
I of course lack full details and am at a great distance from the sceng, but it has seemed
to me that a basic reason or excuse perhaps — for the E. A. M. attitude has been distrust regarding the intentions of King George II. I wonder if Macmillan's elforts night not be greatly facilitated if the King himself would approve the catablishment of
Regeney
in Greece and would make a publie dictara- tion of his intention not to teturn unless called for by Popular plebiscite.
This might be particularly offcetive if recompunted by an, assurance that elections will Le held at some fixed date, no matter how far in the future, when the people would have full opportunity tu" express themselves.
Meanwhile might it not be
to possible
secure general agreement on the disarmament and dissolution of all the armed
the groups now country, including the Moun taly Brigade and the Scured Squadaun, leaving your troops to preserve jaw and order alone until the Greek national Terers can be revenɛtituted un ..non-partisan busts Jequiely equipped?
fere án net of constitutional violence will be entailed if we finally decide upon this course. 1 know nothing of the' Arch-· bishop, except that our people on the spot think he might stop a gap or bridge a gully.
RECEIVED from the Greck
is In
.10
3rd Mountain Brigade, which had been fight.ng loyally with us, a message of thanks for cur country efforts to protect their and of grief because British blood was being shed. They asked me to become their Honorary Com- mander. But from Harry Hop. kins enme another warning
44 Public opinion here is de teriorating rapidly beca
because of Greck situation and
your statement in Parliament about the United States and Poland.
With the Battle joined as
Europe
ope and Asin, with every energy required everyone's part to defeat the I confess 1 find myself спіту, greatly disturbed at the diplu- matic lumI
which of events, throw Into the publié grze our several difficulties.
I do not
know what the President 121 Sveltinius may have to say publicly, but it may well be that one or both must them
sto.c in unequivocal term: our deter-
do alt minut.cn to
that we Tery pinelical help. I
however, did not give cano seek a Le and secure
worlu. We were all agreed
on this rupiled;
1 will send
the rim, but the question was whe you over tock-end vens:dered an- ther It could be achieved by swer to your telegram, for allowing
Communists to the tene sir the kindly
which selzell power in Athens, "That I thank you. I hope that the was the issue at stake, Latih reinforcements cuming steadily into. Attien Prime Minister to Mr Harry
health inay make a "more situation in Athens. You will realie: how very serious would be if we withdrew, u we easily could, and the resul was a frightful massacre, and an extreme Left Wing 1g.me under Communist inspiration installed itself, as it would. In Athens.
and be
now
of
Hopkins,
mc
17 Die, 44. I am distressed and puzzled by your message. I hope you will not hesitate to telegraph ne on any points which you think we, or I personally, have been in error, and what
What you would advise, because I have great trust in your Judgment St 1 may and friendship, ever at times look at malters from M different angle. All the President's telegrams 10 have been most kind and en- couraging.
und also his tele- to U., ["Uncle Joe Kram
do world, of good. may
Naturally I should welcome
statements public America which set 100 aims stated in your last Sen- tence.
These CTO ulbo ours, We seek nothing for ourselves from this struggle, pronounce- US. Secretary
one desire is to be of any help possible in the cirzums nees.
You may
be
sure that in before putting my
thoughts You am constantly guided by The fact that nothing can in any way shake the unity and two association between our countries in
the
great tusks to
My Cabinet colleagues here which we have set our hands.
As nuxious us
of all parties are not prepared am to be of
No dis- to
act in to ac you in this greatest help
In a manner honourable to our, record, and situation, there are
Ernest Bevin's speech name. Imitations, imposed in part by
to the Labour conference won the traditional policies of the United States and in part by universal respect, Stern Bight. the mounting advers: action ing lies ahead, and even danger
of public opinion
in this
to our troops in the centre of Athens. country. No one will under- stand better than yourself that I, both personally and as Head of State, um ncecisarily
to
st responsive
the state public feeling.
It is for these reasons that it Its not bien persols-for-this- Government to take a stand along with you in the present
that I shall broadcast to the course of events in
world on Sunday night and do Evening
an attempt lo
make manifest the purity and only temporary bring
disinterestedness would in value to you, and
of the long run do injury don't
to our motives throughout, and also
of our resolves, basic relationships,
i send you Meanwhile tell you how much need to I dislike this state of affairs letter I have received from the King of Greece, to whom we as between you and me. My
have suggested the policy of one hope is to see it rectified
Archbishop of making the so that we can go along, in
The King Athens Rogent. this as in everything, shoulder
refuses to allow this.. There to shoulder....
would
Pross
The fact that you are sup- posed to be against us, in ac-. cordance with the lust sen-
of Lence
Stetinius's release u chilly ment by of-State), US.
el-has-added, as- feared, to our difficulties and burdens. I think it probable
any
★
In the
ALSO sent my promised reply
to the President.
Prime Minister Greece.
CRISIS
OVER
HE Bermudia
ence
LONDON,
Confer-
clearly meets
States 4.50 United
40
our
ย
a
Roosevelt,
ta President 17 Dec 44 About Greece. The present position is that our represiv- tatives on the spot, Macmillan strongly and Leeper, have recommended the appointment of the Archbishop a Rogent. This is obnoxious Papandreou Government, though they might be per a Ro advocate suaded gency of three, namely, the
CASTS BERMUDA
да
to the
AND TRAGEDY"
Archbishop, Gén. Plastiras, and Dragoumis,
There is suspicion that the Archbishop Is ambitious of obtaining chief political power, and that supported by E.A.M., it ruthlessly against existing Ministers, or not Whether this be true or
סין?
A
use
on
I cannot say. The facts are changing from hour to hour. I do not feel at all sure that i
setting up 21 one-man
We
might not be dictatorship Creece.
There is also to be con- sidered the fact that the King refuses, I think inflexibly, to appoint a Regency, certainly 1101 a one-mun Regency of the Archbishop, whom he distrusts and fears. According
that you were unable to give a word of explanation fur our action, but I understand your difficulties
Meanwhile the Cabinet is united
Socialist and the Ministers approve Mr Bevin's declarations at the Labour on th's conference, which matter endorsed the offerat platform by tnujurity 2,435,000 votes to 137,000.
t.me could at any
obtain,
I believe, a ten to one majority in the House of Comunions. I am sure you will do what- ever you etu, I wil keep you constantly Informed
Tis udu, looking back on these to the Greek constitution, the events, now that some years, how com- Clown Prince is
ince is Regent in the have passed, to see absence of the King. The King pletely the paley for which I also states that all his Minis- and my colleagues fought so ters under Papandreou adviso stubbornly has been justified by him against such a stop, and events. Myself, I never had any that, ay D constitutional doubts about it, for I saw quite monarch, he cannot be respon- plainly that Communism would be the perit civilisation would sible for it,
have to face after the deflat of Nazism und Fascian.
British
It did not fall to us to end the The War Cabinet decided to task in Greece, I little thought, three or four days however, at the end of 1944 that await for
the State Department, supported the course of morty to me by overwhelming
tions. Our reinforcements are
American the opinion, wanid in little meri and riving rapidly,
In than two years not General Staff
only adopt telligence toys that there are and carry on the course wa had but would make 4uczilias] in vehement and costly excitons, Athens and the Pirnous. The even of a military character, to Greek
estimate King's
is bring to fruition. 15,000-22.000
Anyhow, we
In his cvidence before th. Sill by the middle of next House of Representatives Foris
far work be
superior Affairs Committe. Mr Dean numbers. I am not prepared,
Acheson, The United States es at present informed, to give Acting Secretary of State, Is
unconstitutional violence Jea such elreum reported to have testifled on
March 21, 1947, as follows:
"A Communist
- donunated government in Greece would bo considered
dangerous to United States security,"
not more than 12,000 ELA.S. opened,
Comniumist
wily
stares.
Our immediate task is to sccure control of Athens and the Piracus. According to the latest
reports EL.AS. may agree to depart. This will give us a firm basis from which to negotiate the best settlement possible between the warring Greek factions. It will cer- tainly have to provide for the disarming
the guerilla forces.
The disarmament of the Greek Mountain Brigade, who took Rimini, and the Suered
of
If Greece has escaped the fate of Czechoslovakia and survives today as one of the free nations, it is due not only to British ac- tion in 1044, but to the steadfast efforts of what was presently to become the united strength of the Engilsh-speaking world.
(Continued on Monday)
Squadren, who have fought (World Copyright reserved.
Ro-
so well at the side of British production, even partially, in any and American troops, would language, strictly
reriously weaken our foreza,
and in any case we could not
abandon than
They may,
however, be re- cleswhere as part of a
* Clement
I am sure you y would not wish us to cast down our painful and thankless task at this time. We embarked upon it with your full consent, We desire nothing from Geesee our duty by the but to do common cause. In the midst of our task of bringing food and relief and maintaining
the rudiments of order for a Government which his no armed forces we have become involved in a furious, though
very bloody, yet struggle. I have felt it much
not
SHADOWS MEETING
By Patrick Maitland, M.P.
Minister to Gen. Scobic. Re- bers of the British Admin- trade. This would make the has done nothink, which Britain
menaced were
seems clear that only a stunning milltary blow, made possible by outside military help (from the United States), could bring about peace.
Atomic Attacks
prohibited)
This is
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moment an astonishing leakage ofj official secrets occurred. The reader will remember my
under the shadow of These are serious suggestions For in that area the United telegram to Gen. Scoble
near-crisis in British- to make to the United Kingdom, States, in, accord with her peri-
It is natural that the Ameri- [the British Commanderia,
which is
can Government already overstretched pheral · strategy, would now be
are reluctant relations. Greece] dispatched at
to manpower. For Britain willing to take a larger hand. to disperse into Southeast Asia a.m. on Dec. 5. This had This, at least, is what ob- would greatly like to contract Persia and Egypt are at present forces which they feel should
commil- the points at issue.
remain in Korea because of the been marked "Personal and servers have gathered from out of some oversens Top Secret. From Prime the attitude of certain mem- ments, the better to concentrate In Cairo Mr Jefferson Caffery, uneasy truco there.
on industrial production and the United States Ambassador, to sustain the Sterling Arca viable once more. package proposal peated to Gen. Wilson," and|istration in recent weeks.
Indeed, an element in Admir- and America a year ago thought of course was in cypher. A
Differences between Bri- at Radford's Idea is that Britain would provide the basis for a THAT is where America is few days later an American tain and the United States might conveniently pull proper treaty with Egypt. .Its resturally dempted to seek ¤ If the columnist Was able to
America's chestnuts out of the broad requirement, that the de- British assurance that,
Britain will be truce is broken, publish practically an exact over the desirability of fire for the price of a retaining fence of the Canai should
meeting between the Heads fee that would compromise stii come
the United States in an international respon back copy-of it. All our commu- of Government, including further Britain's national effort sibility, has gone by the board. atomic bomb attacks upon Man- nications
M. Malenkov, are relatively to achieve economic independ- In face of General Naguib, the churia. Such an assurance,
US Government has wited. may be held, would directly or thereby.
To this there is a consistent In Persia something of the indirectly help to end the I learned on inquiry that all superficial. Divergences go.
Indo-China, rollove the reply from high quarters in same sort is in the wind. Ameri- messages sent through Gen. Wil-deeper.
.Perhaps Admire! Radford, Washington:
can proposals are being
French need of reinsurance · · in son's Supreme Headquarters in
to Chief of Naval Operations who
vassed to restore production to Europe over the European Army, Italy were communicated
the Anglo-Iranian Oll Com- and so relieve American several personages, including the is also Chairman of the United Joint Chiefs of Staff,
pany's allwells and refineries in sure on Britain to abandon the American Ambassador in Rome, States
one hand, it is a British-American consortium. Canal Zone to engage in an special gave one of the most revealing the
urgent to establish the But the crux of the proposal Europe. unless they
even heavier commitment In restrictive marking, On reading hints when he was recently in
European Army, which in that U.S. interesin should take the text of my message sent be- London
Ho suggested that, since it turn involves two require 75 percent of the pickings of
It is
open fore dawn
5 to Gen. on Dec.
The first is to re- what is a wholly, British enter exchange of atomis information Scoble the Ambassador repeated coat the United States £80,000,- ments.
com store peace to Indo-China, the prise. 000 a year to keep one
to to reviewed and even
́even J.: its substance to the
to the Stato Debatant division in Europe while second is to establish a clearer In the Far East the difference.
that
President Eisenhower-ip partment within his
the cost to Britain' was £25,- British commitment to EDC to of viewpoint is critical again. sympathetic to the British view. in his rights the would therefore, ton keep, forces it. Burope undo. All apparently agree, Including But the He was
President is not them the French Prime Minister, that happy, of course, shout projects after his pharaphrase reached if Britain had more and the with EDC's approval. the State Department has never United States fewer, troops on On the other hand, the Bri- the rebels in Indo-China, In- kov-even if the possibility of been discovered, or at any rate the Continent. It was implied, tish commitment to the Middle deed, M. Laniel has repeated that has receded. made Jatown, but on Dec. 11 that the United States would Tort could and should be res that Tranco does not work und
conditional stirrenders: Yet, it bargain! the American journalist made be willing to bear the cost-
bore. a
ence.
Two requirements
can-
Is
#
war
pres
in doing this. What happened proper share of Atlantic burdens finitely, and enly, tó recall France' must make peace with for a meeting with M. - Malen-
siced.
Sir Winston is well placed to
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