1953-12-07 — Page 4

Page. 4

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THE

MAGIC SCROLL

BY

HO YUEN YEE

ILLUSTRATIONS

THE AUTHOR

A Delightful Booklet

For Children of All Ages' FIVE DOLLARS

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KOWLOON

IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT

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$345

FROM

M

Harry Odell.

THE CHINA› MAIL, MONDAY, DECEMBER

SIR WINSTON CHURCHILL'S WAR MEMOIRS

During December, 1944, street fighting in Athens increased in scale. Field- Marshaj Alexander, faced by the possiblity of sending large British reinforcements from the Italian front, hoped for a settlement through Arch- bishop Damaskinos, whom the King of Greece still refused to ac- cept as Regent,

On

Christmas Eve

tho

Prime Minister and Mr

CONFERENCES IN ATHENS WITH GREEK LEADERS

But

all

ended

Eden decided to look at happened. the situation on the spot, happily. and on Christmas Day they arrived by air in various discussions to the Wer

Cabinet. Athens.

A

T about noon WU landed at the Kalamaki airfield which was guardect by about 2,000 British air-

and all well armed men,

were Field- active. Here

Alexander, Marshal Leeper (the British Am- bassador] and Mr Mac. millan [Minister of State).

Mr

They came on board the plane, and we spent nearly three hours in hard discus- sion of the whole position, Wo military and political. were, I think, in complete agreement at the end, and

the about

immediate steps to be taken.

1 sleep anchored

and

on

party were to my

board the Ajax, of the Piraeus, the of Plate famous light cruiser

River battle, which now seem- The road ed a log time ago.

And

wit!1

was reported clear,

an escort of several armoure

traversed the few car's miles without incident.

we

We boardel the Ajax be- fore darkness fell, and I re- alised for the first time that it All pres was Christmas Day.

made by parations had been the ship's company for a jolly evening, and we certainly dis- turbed them as little as pos- sible.

*

THE sailors had a plan for a slozen of them to be dressed

up in every kind of costume and disguise, as Chinese,

Negroes, Red Ind'ans, Cockneys, clowns

the all to serenade

offtecra ofcers, and gen- revels

and warrant

suit-

erally inaugurate able to the occasion. The Aren- bishop and his attendants rived an enormous

The

ar- toll figure in the robes and high hai öt a dignitary of the Greek Church.

parties met. two

The sailors thought he was part of their show of which they had

told,

danced and not been

him enthusiastically. around

thought this -The-Archbishop-

premedit- molley gung was ated insult, and might

Wall but have departed to the shore

the of for the timely arrival captain, who, after some en- barrassment, explained matters Meanwhile ↓ satisfactorily.

had what waited, wondering

TUDOR

by ROLEX

a name

to remember

IF YOU WANT TO

REALLY PLEASE HER THIS 'CHRISTMAS/

Lane, Cranford's OR OTHER LEADING WATCH DIALERS

HEAR YE

Watch for the..

*

GREAT NEWSTAT

GRAND OPENING

of...

Hotel Miramar Restaurant

NEWEST • COZIEBT • AIR CONDITIONED

RESTAURANT

CORNER OF NATHAN & KIMBERLEY ROADS, KOWLOON

I sent an

account of our

This is Chapter 20 of the great. war leader's sixth and last book of war history. The book covers the closing phases of the struggle in Europe, from the Normandy landings to the surrender of the Germans.

he was In the

necessary to see. At' leart wa have done our best. Bilter and

animated dis cussions between the Grook parties accupied all the follow- ing day. At 5.30 that evening I had a final discussion with the Archbishop. As the result ok his conversations with the F.L.AS. ⚫deicgates it. agtced should

SAILI

ask the King of Greece to make him Regent. He would set about forming; a

new Goverment without

Communist members.

ony

We undertook to carry on the fighting in full vigour undli

F.L.A.S

accepted

'a

WAS that

For all eyes are turned up-chie ou this table at this moment, truce or the Athens area and wo Brkish trust that clear of them. I told him not undertake whatever has happened in the we could heal of fighting, whatever military task beyond Athens would misunderstandings there may and Allien, but that have been, we shall preserve. Try to keep British forces that old friendship between Greece until the Greek National Greece and Great Britain Army was formed. which played as, notable a part in the establishment of Greek independence.

In

Field Marshal Alexander gave an encouraging account of present military situation,

Just before this tall I had which had been grave a fort-

received A jeter from the night ago but was now muer

The better.

Field - Marshni,

Communist delegates asking for #privalo meeting with me however, had formed the de-

The Archbishop begged me Hot ided view that behind the E.L.A.S. units there was a muat keep the possibility of ready convinced that

to assent to this. I replied that rtubborn

conference of resistance.

WIE core

them that

WAS glad to get back to the as outstanding figure

the change the geting in Communist

character, steadily in view, ..........

Greek turmoil. Among other Embarsy, where there were fully Greek in character, I did which was stronger than w I had of course kept the Fro- things. had learned that no a few oil stoves lent by G.H.Q. not feel justined in agreeing to hud thought

would be sident informed. and

had been a champion wrestler for the duration of my visit. their request. dimeuit

It Prime Minister to eradicate. very

President before he entered he Orthodox While we were awaiting news 26 Dec 44 Church. Roosevelt

from the conference and dinner we were successful in push- ing the E.L.A.S. force out-

and I are going Anthony

has noted that I I rent the following Mr Loener side the boundaries ol. out to see what we can do to raid, "It would distress me to to my wife, towards whom I air for Naples and London. Athens, we should still be

- think that any new jark Your fell penitent because of my de- with faced

.a

mical.

Regens rertión on Christmas Eve: the Braude assumes tremendous

Basia of action:

interfere tark if we tried to eliminate

In any way King does not go back unil might them altogether.

plebiscite in his faveur has with your spiritual functions." been taken.

necessary For the rest, we He gave me all the cannot abandon those who reassurance. have taken up Brins in our rause, and must if necessary ing. Dec. 28, fight it out with them.

Mr

Mucmillan and M Leeper Informed us they had the Sun. been considering

all moning of a conference of

which the political leaders; E.L.A.S. would be invited to attend. We felt that the convening of such confer- ence, with the declared ob ject of putting an end fratricidal strife In would.

even if

10

£0

square this Greek catangis-

About six o'clock that evoir the conference Gack Foreign

opened in the

I must always be under Offer. We took our seats in s led the wa keck

nothing large, bienk roum

from Grecce, in territory

after dark- urners fell. The winter is ecld in

advuplages. We have given Athens. There was no heating, It and a few hurricane lamps cast much, and will give more

it is in our power. I count on to

refused the invitation, ensure intentions would that our

It

have been made clear to the

agreei world. We niso would be a good move that be the Archbishop thould

of the

conference

chairman

When he come to ree us ho (on board the Ajax] spoke with great bitterness against the atrocities ot E.L.A.S [the Communist dork, Crillas) and the

hand behind E.A.M. [the political movement, con-

Liston trolling E.L.A.S.Į. ing to him, it was impossible. to doubt that he greatly feared the Communist. Trotskylte As he called combination in Greek, affairs.

or

a dim light upon the scene.

Field

to help us in this time sat on the Archbishop's right, Marchel Alexander was on his with Mr Eden, and

to

left.

ou to of unusual dificulty, In par- ticular I Fitould like you tell

Ambassador your Athens to make contact with us end to help all he can n accordance with the above principics.

is replied next day.

I have asked our Ambassa- dor to call upon you as so0!! as possible, and I am ready.

on

the

Mr Mueveagh, the Ameri

Baciln,

can Ambassador, M. the French Minister, and the

Soviet military representative had all accepted our invitation.

to be of all assistance, I can three Communist leaders were late. It was not their in this difficult situation.

fault. There had been pro- hope that your presence there longed bickering, at the out- After half an hour we Poste. began our work, and I was al- ready speaking when they en- tered the room. They were presentable figures in British battle dress.

spot will result achieving an entirely salle- factory solution,

ON the morning

cer

of Boxing Day I set out for the Em- bagay. I remember that three or four shells from the ilghting ile

he which was going on a fold US that

mtis had Issued

encyclical away on our left talsed spouts an

the today condemning e of water fairly near the Ajax

for crowd

as we were about to go ashore. E. L. A S.

armoured en

and taking 8,000 hostages, middle Hero

of thein

sein military escort awalled us. -1 class people, many Egyptians, and shooting

to my Private Secretary, said Colville,

"Where is your day, and that he few everyday he would re- pistol, and when he said that to the he had not got are I scolded matters port these

him, If the

for I certainly had my Press of the world

released. own. women --were--not

In a few moments, while we After some wrangling he un- the women

into our steet derstood that

were crowding box, he said. " "L have got a would be released.

"Where did you Tommy-gun" Generally he impressed me get it from?" I asked. "I bor- rowed it from the driver," he with a good deal

ta fidence. He is a magnificent replied. "What is he going

he immediately do?" I asked. "He will be busy and figure, secepled the proposal of be- driving." ing chairman of the confer-

ence.

of

con-

I was impressed, especial

"But there will be no trouble

stopped unless wo аге

1

answered, "and what is he gu- ing to do then?" Jock had no

ly from what the Archbishop reply. A black mark! We rum- sald, by the intensity of bied along the road to the Em- hatred for

in bassy without any trouble. Communists We had no doubl country.

There I again met the Aren

on whom we WCTO of this before we came here. bishop,

to stake so much. He Present position is confirmed about

was

prom by all we have heard so far. agreed to all that

pro- how the posed. We planned the There is no doubt people of Athens would vote cedure at the conference to bo held in the afternoon. I was al- if they had a chance, and we

For Sall

GAMEN ORNAMENTS

In my speech I said, among other things:

torious Power united vic-

+

telegram

On the following morning, Dcc. 28,. Mr Eden and I left by

We have had a fruitful day, and eɔ for there is nu need to give up hope of gome Important results. H.M.S. Ajax is very comfortable. and one can get a view of the nighting in North Piraeus ・W¢ quite short range. have had to move a mile forther

ing Archbishop RB we were

ne

away,

Retting too many of thel french mortar bombs

neighbourhood.

up

in our

I

[At 4.30 in the morning of Dec. 30 the Prime Minister and Mr Eden persuaded the

to truc King of Greece proclamation declaring that he

return would not

to Greece until a free plebiscite had been held, and appoint- Damaskinos

Repent.

SENT the royal -

announce-

ment at once to Mr. Leeper I went into the Embassy in Athenr, saying

frem. Archbishop from

that the the moment in

an when he received it should strong consider himself free to pro

ceed with all the functions of his office and could be assured of the refolute support of His Majesty's Government,

that long road

Athens Piraeus to armoured car with escort, and I addressed ali the lucky women on Et bassy staff, who, have been In continued danger and dis comfort for so many weeks, but are in gayest of moods. Mrs Leeper is an inspiration

to them.

On

a vehe-

The Archbishop replied to the King accepting, his mandate as and Regent. There was a new living Greek Government. You will have read about Jan. 4 Gen. Plastiras, the plot to blow up HQ. in

me

Republican,, who was the Grande-Bretagne.

revoli the Hotel

the Army I do not think it was for my against King Constantine beneft. Still, a ton of 03nce 1922, became Prime Minister. mile was put in sewers by The continuous fighting-in extremely skllied hands and

drove the

with German mechanism bu Athens during December at Inst from the Insurgents tween the time my arrival

and by mid-January was known and daylight. British troops

capital.

controlled all have made friends with Arch Attles. The Communists could birhop, and think it has becs do nothing against

very clever to work him in

men

Mr Eden and I have come all this way, although great

our battles are raging in Belgium

and a truco and on the German frontier, as we have done, leaving the in open country,

was signed on Jan.. 11. to make this effort to rescue constfullonal. questions for

All E.L.A.S. forces were to further treatment later, Greece from a miserable fate

withdraw well clear of Athens, and raise her to a point of

The conferat.cs

Those at Greek Salonica, and Patras.

in great fame and repute.

intensely the Peloponnese were to bo Foreign Office was We do not intend to obstruct

dramatic. We Bri-

All those haggard given a anfe-conduct to return your deliberations. tish, and other representa-

Greek faces round the table, to their homes. British troops

ccase fire and the Archbishop with his would

and stand tives of the

fast. Prisoners would be... · Hoe enormous hat, making him, I should think, seven feet leased on both sides. These at high, whom we got to pru- rangements came into force on side....

Jan. 15."

the six weeks · Thus 'ended Thanks were proposed, riruggle for Athens, and, as it with many compliments to us ultimately proved, for the free for ecming, by the Greek dom of Greece from Commun- Government. and supported

When three by E.L.A.S. representative, I subjugation.

million men were fighting on who

added

reference

either side on the Westerns Great Britain, "our rcat Front and vast American forces Ally" all this with guna were deployed against Japan in Aring at each other not the Pacific the

spasms of Greece may seem petty, but

will leave you Greeks to your own dis- cussions

-most- under this eminert and most venerable shall not citizen, and wo trouble you unless you send for us again.

We may walt a Bitle while, but we have many other tasks perform in

to

this world of terrible storm. My that the hope is, however, conference which begins here, this afternoon in. Athens will restore Greece once again to her fame and power among

and the the Allies.

peace. loving peoples of the world, will secure the Greek front- from lers from ty danger the north, and will enable every Greek to make the best of himself and the best of his country before the eyes of the whole world.

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for away.

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.

After some consideration 1 nevertheless they stood at the shook E.L.A:S. delegate's nerve-centre of power, law and hand, and it was clear from freedom in the Western world. their response that they were

(Continued Tomorrow) - gratified. They are the very Top ones. We have now left them together, as it was Greek show. It may

break

(World Copyright reserved. Ra-

up at any moment. We shall production, even partially, in any wali for a day or two? if language, strictly

prohibited).