[Συλλογικό] - The Greek Question Speeches of Soviet Delegation at UN General Assembly 1947...

8/3/2019 [Συλλογικό] - The Greek Question Speeches of Soviet Delegation at UN General Assembly 1947 [Soviet News 1947]

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IL L U S T R A T E D S O V IE T S H IL L I N G B OOKLE T S ·

S O V I E T U N IO N A T T H E SAN F R A N C I S CO C O N F E R E N C E

V OI CE OF T H E U.S.S.R. at the London Session of UN O General Assemb

SO VIET -PO LIS H R EL A TIO NS (i 944 46)

A R U S S I A N L O O K S A T R E B O R N E U R O P E , by B. Polevoy

FIVE-YEAR PLAN FOR 1946-50

E D U C A T I O N I N T H E U . S . S . R .

L E G A L R I G H T S O F T H E S O V I ET F AM IL Y , by G. M. Sve id lov

P U B L I C H E A L T H I N T H E U . S . S . R . , by N . Semasrmo

P R O P E R T Y R I G H T S O F S O V I E T C IT IZ E N S , b y M . S . L i p e t s ke i S O V I E T M U S I C (Mus ical Ed uc at ion and Music- m aking), by Boris Yagoli

H O W T H E S O V I E T C I T IZ E N P AY S HIS T A X E S , by Pro f . M . l . Bo g o lep

C O -O P E R A T I V E S IN T H E S O V I ET U N I O N , by V . Ba tov

• P O R T IN T H E S O V I E T U N IO N , by E. Petrovsk y an d o the rs

★ ★ ★

C O N S T I T U T I O N O F T H E U .S .S .R . ( A u th oris e d T e x t ) ............. 3D E M I L IT A R I S A T I O N and D E M O C R A T I S A T I O N

of G E R M A N Y by Mars hal l·'. D. Sckohvtky ... . .. 330th A N N I V E R S A R Y O F T H E G R E A T O C T O B E R S O C I A L I S T R E V O L U T I O N Speech o f V . M. Molotov 3

U S SR A N D M A R S H A L L ’ S P R O P O S A L S — M O L O T O V ’ S

S T A T E M E N T S .................................................................... 3

V Y S H IN S K Y ’ S SP EE CH Againit the Incendiaries of a New W ar

( UNO , 1947) .................................................................... 3

J. V . ST A LIN O N P O ST -W A R INT E R NA T IO N A L R ELA T IO NS 6

SOVIET LAND AND PEOPLE (A Pocket Geography) ............. is. 6

S O V I E T S C IE N C E IN T H E S E R V IC E O F T H E P E O P L E , by

S. V avilov, Pres ide nt o f the U.S .S .R . A cadem y of Sciences . . .

S O V IE T T R A N S P O R T (R ai l, A ir and Wate r), by Prof . V. Obrazts ov

and o thers .............................................................................1». 6

M O L O T O V S S P EE CH E S A T T H E P A R I S C O N F E R E N C E ... t i o

VYSHINSKY'S SPEECHES A T T H E PARIS CO NFE RE NC E . .. *s.

M O L O T O V S S P EE CH E S A T N E W Y O R K SES SION O F U N O

G E N E R A L A S S E M B L Y ....................................................... us. o

CHESS IN RUSSIA, by P . Romanovsky .................................. *s. 6d.

S H A K E S P EA R E O N T H E S O V I E T S T A G E , by Μ . M . M oro zo v . .. 5s. o



T he

GREEK Q u e s t i o n

Speeches o f Soviet

Delegates at U. N.

Genera l Assembly

■ H H B 1 9 4 7

Priceice 1 /-



The

GREEK Question

Speeches of A. Y. Vyshinsky, Head of the U.S.S.R.

Delegation; A A. Gromyko, P er manent

Representative of the U.S.S.R. on the

Security Council; and D. Z. Manuilsky,

Head of the Ukrainian Delegation

U. N. General AssemblySeptember- Odiober, 1947

Published by “S OV IET N E W S ”

London, 1947



C O N T E N T S page

I . A . A . G r o m y k o 'S Sp e e c h A g a i n s t F o r e i g n I n t e r v e n t i o n

i n G r e e c e , M a d e a t t h e P o l i t i c a l C o m m i t t e e , September

* 7> 1947 : · ...........................................................................5I I . D . . Z. M a n u i l s k y ’ s S p e e ch a t t h e P o l i t i c a l C o m m i t t e e

October 3, 194*7 · ■ · ■ · · · · 1^I I I . A . Y . V y s h i n s k y ’ s S p e e c h a t t h e P o l i t i c a l C o m m i t t e e ,

October 6 , 1 9 4 7 .

1. T h e Ang lo-Am erican Accusers Distort Facts . . -:]

2. Cru de D istortions in the W ork of the Investigating

Commission . . . . . . . . . . 2 8

3. T h e C ivil W ar in Greece and the U .S.A . . . . 30

4. Supp orters of the A nt i-P op ula r Bloc . . . . 33

5. To Whom is the State Sovereignty of the Peoples a

Hindrance? .................................................................................36

(i. Who Really Threatens the Independence and Terri

tor ial In tegr ity of Greece? . . . . . . 38

7 .. Aggressive Plans of Ts ald aris and Com pan y . . . 42

8. Ex tortion of False Tes tim on ies . . . . 44

9. O ur Conclusions . . . . . . . . 4 8

I V . A. Y. V y s h i n s k y R e p l i e s i n t h e D i s c u s s i o n o n t h e

D r a f t R e s o l u t i o n s o n G r e e c e , M a d e a t t h e P o l i t i c a l

C o m m i t t e e , October 8 , 19 4 7 . . . . . . · . 5 1

V . A . Y . V y s h i n s k y ’ s S p e e c h o n t h e A c c u s a t i o n s A g a i n s t

Y u g o s l a v i a , B u l g a r i a a n d A l b a n i a , M a d e a t t h e

P o l i t i c a l C o m m i t t e e , October 11 , 19 47 . . . . 54

VI. A. Y . V y s h i n s k y ’ s S p e e c h e s a t t h e P o l i t i c a l C o m m i t t e e

October 13, 1947 . . . . . . . . . 62

VII. A . Y . V y s h i n s k y ’ s S p e e c h a t t h e P l e n a r y ’ S e s s t o .n ,

• October 2 0 , 1 9 4 7 .

1. H i sto ry o f th e G re ek Q u e s t i o n ........................................71

2. Falsification of the Gre ek Elections . . . · . 73

3. T erro rist Reg im e and Foreign T roo ps in Greece . . 75

4. Jug gling with Facts and “ Ex ploits” of the Anglo-French-

American B l o c ......................................................................78

5. Traitors, Criminals and Provocateurs in the Role of

Witnesses fo r the P ro se cu tio n ...................................................80

6. Forgery of Documents . . . . . . . 85

7. Collapse o f the Anglo-Am erican Accusations. Th e

U.S.A. Covers up the Traces . . . . . . 89

8. T h e Establishment of the Commission— Crude Violation

‘ of the Most Important Principle of the Charter Concerning the Sovereign R ights of Nations . . . 93

9. W e Demand an Imm ediate Withdra wal of British

T roo ps and American M ilitary Instructors . . . 95



I

- A. A . G R O M Y K O ’S S P E E Q H A G A I N S T F O R E IG N

IN T E R V E N T IO N IN G R E E C E , M A D E AT T H E P O L IT IC A L

C O M M I T T E E , S E P T E M B E R 27 , 1947

TH E G r e e k q u e s t io n , a s is k n o w n , h a s a l o n g h is t o r y . I t is

p r a c t i c a l ly n e v e r t a k e n o ff t h e a g e n d a o f t he U n it e d N a t io n s .I t w a s t a k e n u p s e v e r a l t im e s b y t h e S e c u r i t y C o u n c il, w h ic h , d e

v o t e d t o it s d i s c u s s io n n e a r ly a t h i rd o f a l l it s s e s s io ns . U n fo r t u n a t e ly , t h e S e c u r it y C o u n c i l c o u ld n o t r e a c h a p r o p e r s o lu t io no f t h is p r o b le m i n t h e in t e r e s t s o f m a i n t a in i n g w o r ld p e a c e , f o r

r e a s o n s I w i ll d w e ll u p o n s u b s e q u e n t ly .D e s p it e t h e g r a v e t r ia l s c a u s e d b y e n e m y o c c u p a t io n , m a n y

t h o u s a n d s o f G r e e k s w a g e d s t r u g g l e i n p a r t i s a n d e t a c h m e n t sa g a in s t t h e e n e m y . T h e p e o p le o f Gr e e c e , i n c l u d i n g m a n y

t h o u s a n d s o f h e r oe s o f t h e r e s is t a nc e m o v e m e n t w h o , u n d e r t h ea r d u o u s c o n d it io n s o f th e o c c u p a t io n , t o o k to t h e p a t h o f u n e q u a l

s t r u g g le , h a d e v e r y r i g h t to e x p e c t t h a t a f t e r t h e l ib e r a t io n o f Gr e e c e i t w o u ld b e g iv e n , t h e o p p o r t u n it y t o o r g a n is e t h e c o u n

t r y ’s in t e rn a l p o lit ic a l a n d e c o n o m ic l if e , in a c c o r d a n c e w i t h it s

w is h e s , o n a d e m o c ra t ic fo u n d a t i o n , t o g e t r id o f t h e c o n s e q u e n c e s o f e n e m y o c c u p a t io n a n d t o b r i n g t h e c o u n t r y o n t o th ero a d o f p e a c e fu l l i f e .

U n f o r t u n a t e ly , th e s e la w f u l e x p e c t a t io n s o f t h e G r e e k p e o p leh a v e n o t b e e n ju s t if ie d . A s s o o n a s Gr e e c e w a s l ib e r a t e d fr o m

e n e m y t r o op s , it a t on ce b e c a m e o n t h e o n e h a n d a n o b je c t o f in t r i g u e s b y t h e a n t i- d e m o c r a t ic fo r c e s , w i t h in Gr e e c e , a m o n g s t

w h o m a p r o m in e n t r o le w a s p la y e d b y p e o p le w h o h a d c o lla b o

r a t e d , w it h t h e e n e m y a n d f o u g h t a g a in s t t h e G r e e k n a t io n , a n do n t h e o t h e r a n o b je c t o f o b v io u s foft e ig n in t e r f e r e n c e .Y o u a l l r e m e m b e r h o w b r u t a lly t h e a t t e m p t s o f t h e G r e e k

p e o p le t o o r g a n is e t h e c o u n t r y ’s in t e r n a l lif e a lo n g d e m o c r a t iclin e s a n d in c o n f o r m i t y w it h it s o w n w is h e s w e r e s u pp r e s s e d .T h e e n e m i e s o f d e m o c r a c y a n d t h e c o l l a b o r a t i o n i s t s , r e l y i n g o nf o r e ig n b a y o n e t s , a p p l ie d a l l t h e ir e f fo r ts t o p r e v e n t t h e e s t a b lis h m e n t o f a d e m o c r a t ic r e g im e i n t h e c o u n t r y . O n t h e s t r e e ts

o f A t h e n s , B r it is h t a n k s s h o t d o w n G r e e k d e m o c r a t s , fo r t h es ole r e a s o n t h a t t h e y d e m a n d e d t h e c r e a t io n o f a d e m o c r a t icr e g im e i n t h e c o u n t r y a n d c a lle d f or s t r u g g le a g a in s t t ho s e w h o

c o m p r o m is e d t he m s e lv e s b y c o lla b o r a t io n w it h t h e e n e m ya g a in s t t h e p e o p le , a g a in s t t h os e w h o f r o m t h e v e r y o ut s e ta t t e m p t e d to s t r a n g l e G r e e k d e m o c r a c y a n d e s t a b lis h a n a n ti-

p o p u la r r e g im e in t h e c o u nt r y .[Here, A. A . Gromy ko gave a br ief description o f the a nti-popular

political regime in Greece. He stressed that the so-called plebiscite of

1946, far from impr oving the' situation in the country , had aggravated,

it still more.]

T h e e v e n t s f o llo w in g t h e p le b i s c it e b r o u g h t a b o u t s t ill gr e a t e r

t e n s io n in t h e c o u n t r y . B r u t a l p e r s e c u t io n o f t h e t r a d e u n io n s

5



a n d t h e i r l e a d e r s w a s s t a r t e d . T h e t r a d e u n i o n l e a d e r , P a p a r i -

g as t o ld t h e S e c u r it y C o u n c i l C o m m i s s i o n t h a t m a n y l e a de r so f t h e t r a d e u n i o n m o v e m e n t w e r e s u b je c t e d t o be a t in g s , t o r t u r ea n d e x i le . T h e t e r r o r c r e a t e d b y t h e N a t io n a lis t - F a s c is t b a n d s ,

w h i c h h a v e o p e r a t e d w it h im p u n it y in Gr e e c e fr o m t h e v e r y

b e g i n n in g o f t h e c o u n t r y ’s l ib e r a t io n f r o m t h e o c c u p a t io n is t s ,h a s b e e n in t e n s ifie d s t ill m o r e . T h o u s a n d s o f Gr e e k s h a v e b e e ns h o t o r i m p r i s o n e d . N e i t h e r w o m e n n o r c h i l d r e n h a v e b e e ns p a r e d . T h e t e r r o r b e c a m e p a r t i c u la r ly w i de s p r e a d a f te r t h ef a i l u r e o f t h e V a r k i z a a g r e e m e n t o f F e b r u a r y 1 2 , 1 9 4 5 , a n d

fo l low ing the e le c t ions he ld on Ma r c h 31 , 1946. I cou ld c ite

v o l u m in o u s d a t a c o n c e r n in g t h e v ic t i m s o f t his , t e r r o r , i n c l u d i n gd a ta f r o m o f f i c i a l G r eek s o u r ces .

T e n s o f th o u s a n d s o f a d h e r e n t s o f t h e d e m o c r a t ic r e g im e h a v eb e e n a r r e s t e d a n d t h o u s a n d s k ille d o r s u bje c t e d t o t o r t u r e b y

g e n d a r m e r ie a n d R ig h t i s t b a n d s . L a t e ly , t he s it u a t io n ha s g r o w nw o r s e . A c c o r d i n g t o t h e l a t e s t r e p o r t s o f t h e G r e e k p r e s s t h en u m b e r o f p e o ple s e n t e n ce d to d e a t h fr o m t h e b e g in n in g o f

t h e o p e r a t io n o f t h e c o ur t s m a r t ia l h a d r e a c h e d 479 b y S e p t e m b e r 6 , 1 9 4 7 . A m o n g t h o s e e x e c u t e d w e r e w o m e n a n d c h i l d r e n .

A s t i ll g r e a t e r n u m b e r w a s k i lle d a n d t o r t u r e d t o d e a t h w it h o u t

t r ia l b y t h e g e n d a r m e r ie a n d R ig h t is t b a n d s w h o a r e s t i ll c o nt in u in g t o p e r p e t r a t e t h e ir b lo o d y c r im e s w it h im p u n i t y .

I s i t s u r p r i s i n g t h a t u n d e r s u c h c o n d i t i o n s , t h o u s a n d s o f G r e e k sh a v e t a k e n t o t h e p a t h o f o p e n s t r u g g l e a g a i n s t t h e p r e s e n t

r e g im e ? T e n s o f t h o u s a n d s o f p e o p le h a v e p r e fe r r e d t o t a k e t ot h e m o u n t a in s a n d e m b a r k o n th e p a t h o f a r m e d s t r u g gle r a t h e r

t h a n b e n d t he k n e e t o a r e g im e im p o s e d u p o n th e G r e e k pe o p lef r o m o u ts id e a n d t o F a s c is t b a n d s o p e r a t in g u n d e r it s w i ng . A l lt h is b r o u g h t a b o u t t h e s it u a t io n in w h i c h c i v il w a r is n o wa c t u a l l y b e i n g f o u g h t i n G r e e c e .

T h e s t r u g g le , is t a k i n g p la c e n o t o n ly in N o r t h e r n Gr e e c e , as

s o m e p e o p le a r e t r y in g t o pr o v e , b u t e m b r a c e s a l l d is t r ic t s - o f t h e co u n t r y . I t h a s a l s o b r o k en o u t o n th e i s l an d s , w h ich , a s i sc o m m o n l y k n o w n , a r e lo c a t e d fa r f r o m t h e A lb a n ia n , B u lg a r i a na n d Yu g o s la v f r o nt ie r s . T h is is w h a t Gr e e c e w a s b r o u g h t t o b yt h e e s t a b lis h m e n t o f a r e g im e t h e r e w h ic h is h a t e fu l t o t h e Gr e e k

people . ^T h e p r e s e n t r u le r s o f Gr e e c e a r e t r y i n g t o s h i ft t h e b l a m e fo r

t h e s it u a t i o n in t h e c o u n t r y o n t o n e ig h b o u r in g S ta t e s — A lb a n ia ,

B u l g a r ia a n d Y u g o s la v ia — a d v a n c in g a g a in s t t h e m t he u t t e r lyg r o u n d l e s s c h a r g e s t h a t t h e s e c o u n t r i e s a r e h e l p i n g t h e G r e e k p a r t i s a n s a n d p r o v o k i n g b o r d e r i n c i d e n t s .

T h e S o v i e t d e l e g a t i o n i s f i r m l y c o n v i n c e d t h a t t h e a c c u s a

t i o n s l e v e l l e d b y t h e G r e e k G o v e r n m e n t a g a i n s t n e i g h b o u r i n gS t a te s a r e m a n u f a c t u r e d . T h e y a im a t in t e n s i fy in g t h e s o - c alle da i d f r o m o u t s i d e i n o r d e r t o p r e s e r v e b y a l l m e a n s t h e a n t i -

p o p u l a r r e g im e e s t a b lis h e d in . Gr e e c e . M o r e o v e r , t h e fa c t s s h o wt h a t t h e G r e e k p o l i t i c i a n s n o w i n p o w e r a l s o h a v e m o r e f a r -



r e a c h i n g p l a n s . M a n y o f t h e m d o n o t c o n c e a l t h e f a c t t h a t t h e y

a r e i m p a t i e n t ly a w a it in g c o n flic t ' a m o n g t h e g r e a t P o w e r s a n df i r s t a n d f o r e m o s t b e t w e e n t h e S o v i e t U n i o n a n d t h e U n i t e d

S ta t e s . T h e y o p e n ly s p r e a d c r im in a l p r o p a g a n d a a b o u t th e d e s i r a b i lit y o f w a r b e t w e e n E a s t a n d W e s t . T h e y c a l l fo r w a r a g a in s t ,

t h e S l a v S ta t e s , u s in g s l a n d e r o u s a n d fa ls e a s s e r t io n s b o r r o w e d

f r o m t h e a r s e n a l o f N a z i p r o p a g a n d a .H e r e a r e t h e pr o n o u n c e m e n t s o f t w o s u c h w a r m o n g e r s :G e n e r a l A r m y In s p e c t o r S p ilio t o p o u lo s h a s s t a t e d : “ An y o n e

w h o d oe s n o t w is h t o f ig h t a g a in s t t h e S l a v s a n d t h e ir a llie s , t heC o m m u n i s t s , c a n n o t be c o ns id e r e d a G r e e k ” ( t h e n e w s p a p e r

“ E le f t e r i a E l la d a , ” F e b r u a r y 6 , 19 47 ).Ze r v a s , s p e a k in g in t h e t o w n o f V e r r ia , s t a t e d : “ Gr e e c e c o u n t s

o n t h e h e lp o f t h e A ng lo - S a x o n s a g a in s t th e fo r c e s o f S l a v d o m ”

( t h e n e w s p a p e r s “ E m b r o s ” a n d “ F o s ” , M a r c h 2 3 , 1 9 4 7 ) .T h e F a s c is t r e m n a n t s a r e h a t c h in g p la n s fo r a n e w w a r a t a

t im e w h e n t h e pe o p le s w h o h a v e ju s t liv e d t h r o u g h t h e m os t

d e v a s t a t i n g o f a l l w a r s , w h i c h ' e n d e d in t h e v i c t o r y o f t h e U n i t e dN a t i o n s o v e r t h e F a s c is t S t a t e s , a r e t r y i n g t o r o o t o u t t h e c o ns e q u e n c e s o f t h is w a r a n d b u i ld a s t a b le p e a c e . -

A s w e s ee , w a r b e t w e e n We s t a n d E a s t is u r g e d n o t m e r e ly b yt h e R i g h t p r e s s c o n t r o lle d b y t h e G r e e k r u l in g c ir c le s , b u t a ls o

b y p e o p le l ik e t h e o m in o u s Ze r v a s , w h o p la y a p r o m i n e n t p a r tin t h e p r e s e n t Gr e e k r e g im e .

T h e r e p r e s e n t a t iv e s o f t h e G o v e r n m e n t s o f Yu g o s la v i a , B u l

g a r ia a n d A l b a n i a in v i te d b y t h e S e c u r it y C o u n c i l t o p a r t ic i p a t e

i n t h e d is c u s s i o n o f t h is q u e s t io n , p r o v e d w it h f a c t s a n d f ig u r e st h a t a i d t o t h e G r e e k p a r t is a n s b y t he s e c o u nt r ie s , a s w e ll a s t h e j

b o r d e r in c id e n t s w h ic h t h e y a r e s a i d t o p r o v o ke , a r e n o t h in g b u t ■a m y t h . M o r e o v e r , th e y p r o v e d w it h fa c t s t h a t t h e b o r d e r f

in c id e n t s , in s o f a r a s t h e r e p o r t s a b o u t th e in c i d e n t s c o r r e s p o n d

t o fa c t , a r e p r o v o k e d b y t h e G r e e k m ilit a r i s t s a n d G r e e k a ut ho - .r it ie s , w h o s h o u ld be t h e on e s to b e a r t h e r e s p o n s ib ilit y fo r s u c h

ac t ions . [D e s p it e t h e f a c t t h a t t h e a s s e r t io n s of t h e G r e e k G o v e r n m e n t

w e r e o b v i o u s l y a b s u r d , a n d d e s p i t e t h e f a c t t h a t t h e g u i l t o f t h eG r e e k a u t h o r it ie s in p r o v o k in g t h e in c id e n t s w a s v e r y e v i

d e n t , a n d d e s p it e t h e o b v io u s n e s s o f t h e m o t i v e s p r o m p t i n g t h eG r e e k G o v e r n m e n t t o t u r n w i t h s u c h u n f o u n d e d a c c u s a t i o n s t o

t h e S e c u r it y C o u n c il, th e r e p r e s e n t a t iv e s o f t h e U n i t e d S ta t e s

a n d G r e a t B r it a in in t h e C o u n c il, s u p p o r t e d b y t h e r e p re s e n t a- it iv e s o f c e r t a in o th e r c o u n t r ie s , d id n o t f in d i t p o s s ib le t o t a k e

m e a s u r e s w it h r e g a r d t o t h e a c t u a l p e r p e t r a t o r s o f t h e in c id e n t s ;a n d t o p u t a n e n d to th e u n f o u n d e d a s s e r t io n s of t h e G r e e k

G o v e r n m e n t , a s w a s d e m a n d e d b y t h e U .S .S .R . r e p r e s e n t a t iv e ;in t h e S e c u r i t y C o u n c il.

T h e C o m m i s s io n o f t h e S e c u r it y C o u n c i l fo r m e d b y t h e C o u n

c i l c o n d u c t e d a f o u r m o n t h s ’ in v e s t ig a t io n in t o t h e i n c id e n t s . Ina d d i t io n t o in v e s t ig a t in g t h e i n c id e n t s , it a ls o g a t h e r e d r i c h a n d

7



v a r i e d f a c t u a l d a t a c o n c e r n i n g t h e i n t e r n a l s i t u a t i o n i n G r e e c e ,

r i g h t l y c o n s i d e r i n g t h a t t h e q u e s t i o n o f t h e r e l a t i o n s b e t w e e nGr e e c e a n d h e r n e ig h b o u r s c a n n o t be e x a m i n e d a p a r t f r o m t h ee n t i r e s i t u a t i o n i n G r e e c e , w h i c h i n t h e f i n a l a n a l y s i s e x p l a i n s

t h e s t r a i n e d r e la t io n s b e t w e e n t h e m . T h e C o m m is s io n p r e s e n te d

t h e r e s u l t s o f i t s w o r k i n t h e f o r m o f a r e p o r t t o t h e S e c u r i t yC o u n c il. W h a t d o e s t h e r e p o r t t e ll u s ?

T h e n u m e r o u s fa c t s c o n t a in e d i n t h e r e p o r t , p r e s e n t e d p r im a r i l y i n t h e f o r m o f o r a l a n d w r i t t e n t e s t i m o n y o f w i t n e s s e s ,a m o n g w h o m t he r e w e r e m a n y p r o m in e n t r e pr e s e n ta t iv e s o f t he

d e m o c r a t ic p a r t ie s a n d o r g a n i s a t io n s , r e v e a l t h e c o m p le t eg r o u n d l e s s n e s s o f t h e a s s e r t i o n s o f t h e G r e e k G o v e r n m e n t a l l e g ing' t h a t S t a t e s n e ig h b o u r i n g o n Gr e e c e b e a r t h e r e s p o n s ib ilit yf o r t h e s it u a t io n w h ic h h a s a r is e n in t h e c o u n t r y , p a r t ic u la r ly

in it s N o r t h e r n d is t r i c t s w h e r e t h e s t r u g g le o f t h e p a r t is a n s is

m o s t in te n s e . T h e o v e r w h e lm in g m a j o r i t y o f th e w it ne s s e s e x a m in e d b y t h e C o m m is s io n r e s o lu t e ly r e f u t e d th e a lle g a t io n s o f t h e Gr e e k G o v e r n m e n t a n d it s r e p r e s e n t a t iv e s t h a t A lb a n ia ,B u l g a r ia a n d Yu g o s la v i a p e r m it G r e e k p a r t is a n s t o e n t e r t h e ir

t e r r it o r ie s , a r m t h e m , g iv e t h e m m e d ic a l a id a n d h e lp t h e m t o

r e t u r n f r o m t h e t e r r i t o r y o f t he s e c o u n t r ie s t o Gr e e c e . A l l t h e s e

a c c u s a t i o n s p r o v e d t o b e f a l s e . O n l y o n e f a c t w a s c o n f i r m e d ,w h ic h w a s n e v e r d e n ie d b y t h e G o v e r n m e n t s o f B u lg a r ia , Yu g o s la v ia a n d A lb a n i a , n a m e ly , t h a t te n s o f t h o us a n d s o f G r e e k c i t i z e n s , p a r t i c u l a r l y M a c e d o n i a n s a n d C h a r a s , w i t h r e g a r d t o /

w h o m t h e G r e e k a u t h o r it ie s a p p l y a p o lic y o f b r u t a l p e r s e c u tio na n d p h y s ic a l a n n i h ila t i o n , fo u n d a s y lu m i n t h e t e r r it o r y o f t he s ec o u n t r ie s . T h e s e pe o p le f o u n d a s y l u m in t h e t e r r it o r y o f n e i g h b o u r i n g c o u n t r ie s , fle e in g f r o m t h e a r b i t r a r y r u l e o f t h e G r e e k

g e n d a r m e r ie a n d X- it e b a n d s . T h e C o m m i s s io n ’s r e p o r t c it e sn u m e r o u s d a t a c o n c e r n in g th e r u t h le s s p e r s e c u t io n of t he s en a t io n a l m in o r i tie s b y t h e G r e e k a u t h o r it ie s a n d b a n d s , t h e

b u r n in g o f e n t ir e v illa g e s , a n d t h e m u r d e r s a n d t o r t u r e s to w h ic hp e o p le b e lo n g i n g t o th e s e m in o r it ie s a r e s u b je c t e d .

W h e n a d m it t in g t h e s e r e fu g e e s t o t h e ir t e r r it o r ie s , h o w e v e r ,

t h e G o v e r n m e n t s o f Yu g o s la v i a , B u lg a r i a a n d A l b a n i a a c t in t h es a m e w a y as w o u ld a n y o t h e r G o v e r n m e n t in s im i la r c ir c u m s t an ce s . T h e y a c t in f u l l c o n fo r m it y w it h t h e s t a n d a r d s o f in t e r n a t io n a l la w w h ic h h a v e lo n g b e e n r e c o g n is e d b y c iv ilis e d

h u m a n i t y . T r u e , t h e r e p o r t a l s o c o n t a i n s s t a t e m e n t s o f w i t n e s s e sw h i c h t e s t ifie d in s u p p o r t o f th e G r e e k a u t h o r i tie s in c o n n e c t io nw i t h t h e i n v e s t i g a t i o n i n t o b o r d e r i n c i d e n t s . T h e t e s t i m o n y o f s u c h w i t n e s s e s i s , h o w e v e r , o f a c o n t r a d i c t o r y a n d c o n f u s e d

n a t u r e . It is f u l l o f c o n t r a d i c t io n s a n d a b s u r d it ie s a n d is f a ls e f r o mb e g i n n in g t o e n d . S e v e r a l of t he s e w i tn e s s e s r e p u d ia t e d b e f o r e

t h e C o m m is s io n t h e t e s t im o n y t h e y h a d g iv e n e a r lie r , s t a t in g t h a tit w a s fa ls e . S u c h s t a t e m e n t s w e r e m a d e , fo r e x a m p le , b y w it n es s G a t s io s a n d w it n e s s Za c h o s . T h e la t t e r p o i n t e d o u t t h a t h ise a r lie r t e s t im o n y w a s g iv e n a s a r e s u lt o f b e a t in g s a n d t h r e a t s



T h e s e w e r e n o i s o l a t e d c a s e s . A m o n g t h e w i t n e s s e s w h o g a v e

t e s t im o n y in f a v o u r o f t h e G r e e k a u t h o r it ie s t h e r e w e r e q u it e an u m b e r o f p e o p le w h o h a d b e e n s e n t e n c e d t o de a t h a n d w e r e

b r i b e d b y t he G r e e k g e n d a r m e r i e a n d p o lic e w it h t h e p r o m is e o f s p a r i n g t h e i r l i v e s . N e v e r t h e l e s s , s o m e o f t h e m d i d n o t k e e p t o

t h e b a r g a i n t h e y m a d e w it h t h e G r e e k a u t h o r it ie s a n d fin a l lyg a v e t r u t h f u l t e s t im o n y a s to h o w t h e y w e r e fo r c e d b y p r o m is e sa n d b e a t i n g s t o c o n s e n t t o t e s t i f y a g a i n s t Y u g o s l a v i a , B u l g a r i a

a n d A l b a n i a . T h e s e w it ne s s e s e x p o s e d b o t h t h e m s e l v e s a nd. t h o s ew h o p r o d u c e d t h e m . It is u n d e r s t a n d a b le t h a t i n v ie w o f t h e

m o r a l a n d p o l it ic a l c a lib r e o f s o m e w it n e s s e s t h e ir t e s t im o n yp r o v e d n o t h in g , a n d t h a t if it d id p r o v e a n y t h in g it w a s t h e e x a c to p po s it e o f w h a t w a s in t e n d e d . I t p r o v e d t o w h a t fo u l m e t h o d st h e G r e e k a u t h o r i t i e s r e s o r t i n a t t e m p t i n g t o a c c u s e c o u n t r i e sn e ig h b o u r i n g o n Gr e e c e o f p r o v o k in g b o r d e r in c id e n t s a n d r e n

d e r in g a id t o t h e G r e e k p a r t is a n s .

B u t it w a s o n s uc h t e s t im o n y t h a t t h e G r e e k r e p r e s e n t a tiv e sa t t h e C o m m is s io n p r i m a r i ly b a s e d t h e i r c h a r ge s a g a in s t th e s ec o u n tr ie s . E n t i r e ly d if fe r e n t is t h e t e s t i m o n y o f th o s e p e o p le w h or e v e a le d b e f o r e t h e .C om m is s io n a t r u e p i c t u r e o f t h e s it u a t i o n

in Gr e e c e , t h e b o r d e r p r o v o c a t io n s o f t h e G r e e k m ilit a r is t s , th et e r r o r a g a i n s t t h e d e m o c r a t i c fo r c e s i n t h e c o u n t r y , t h e p e r s e c u

t io n o f t h e n a t io n a l m in o r i tie s a n d t h e o u tr a g e s c o m m it t e d b y

t h e R i g h t e s t b a n d s a n d c o l l a b o r a t i o n i s t s w h o l i c k e d t h e b o o t s o f t h e F a s c is t ' in v a d e r s a n d s e r v e d t h e m l o y a l ly d u r in g t h e o c c u p a t io n . T h e v o ic e o f th es e , m e n a n d w o m e n is t h e v o ic e o f t h e G r e e k

p e o ple , w h o a r e n o t g iv e n a p h a nc e t o b r e a t h e f r e e ly b y t h e F a s c is t r e m n a n t s . A l l t he s e p e o p le u n a n i m o u s ly d e c la r e t h a t t h e p o l it i c a l r e g im e in Gre e c e is m a in t a in e d o n ly b y f o r e i g n in t e r v e n t io n .A m o n g t he s e p e o p le a r e m o s t p r o m i n e n t d e m o c r a t ic le a d e r s

— T s i r i m o k o s , r e p r e s e n t a t i v e o f t h e S o c i a l i s t P a r t y , G r i g o r i a d i s ,r e p r e s e n t a t iv e o f t h e L e f t Lib e r a ls , K y r k o s , r e p r e s e n t a t iv e o f t h e

C e n t r a l C o m m i t te e o f E A M , P a p a r ig a s , a. le a d e r o f t h e G e n e r a lC o n fe d e r a t io n o f L a b o u r , P e t im e z a s , r e p r e s e n t a t iv e o f t h e U n i o no f D e m o c r a t i c A s s o c ia t io n s , r e p r e s e n t a t iv e s o f t h e y o u t h o r g a n i

s a t io n E P O N , a n d m a n y o th e r s .T h e t e s t im o n y o f t h e s e p e o p le , a s w e ll a s o f h u n d r e d s o f

w o r k e r s , p e a s a n t s a n d r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s o f t h e i n t e l l i g e n t s ia , r e v e a l e d t o u s , t h e a by s s in t o w h i c h G r e e c e w a s h u r l e d b y h e r

p r e s e n t r u le r s a n d t h e ir m a s t e r s a b r o a d .H e w h o w i s h e s r e a l l y t o u n d e r s t a n d w h a t i s h a p p e n i n g i n

Gr e e c e , a n d h e w h o w i s h e s t o e x t e n d a h e lp i n g h a n d t o t h eG r e e k p e o p le , m u s t lis t e n f ir s t a n d f o r e m o s t t o t h e v o ic e o f t he s e

p e o p l e a n d n o t t o t h e v o i c e o f Z e r v a s — o f w h o m e v e n s o m e b i gA m e r ic a n n e w s p a p e r s w r it e t h a t h e s e r v e d t h e G e r m a n s f o r t h elo v e o f t h e m a n d t h e It a l ia n s fo r m o n e y — o r p e o p le lik e h i m .

It w o u ld s e e m a s t h o u g h t h e S e c u r it y C o u n c il w o u l d h a v e t o d r a w c o n c l u s i o n s c o r r e s p o n d i n g t o t h e f a c t s , c o n c l u s i o n s

d r a w n fr o m t h e s it u a t io n i n Gr e e c e . B u t th is w a s n o t , u n f o r



t u n a t e ly , t h e c as e . T h e p o s it io n t a k e n u p in t h e C o u n c il b y c e r t a inc o u n t r i e s , a n d f i r s t a n d f o r e m o s t b y t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s , m a d ei t im p o s s ib le t o a d o p t d e c is io n s a g a in s t th e t r u ly a n d n o t t h e

i m a g i n a r y g u i l t y p a r t i e s w h o s t r a i n e d t h e r e l a t i o n s b e t w e e nGr e e c e a n d A lb a n i a , B u l g a r i a a n d Yu g o s la v ia , de c is io n s e n s u r in g

t h e e lim in a t io n o f t h e a c t u a l c a us e s b o t h o f t h e d e t e r io r a t io n o f t h e r e la t io n s b e t w e e n t ho s e c o u n t r ie s a n d t h e g e n e r a l d e t e r io r a t io n o f t h e s it u a t io n i n Gr e e c e . T h e c h ie f p a r t in n o t p e r m it t i n g

t h e a d o p t io n o f s u c h d e c is io n s b y t h e C o u n c i l w a s p la y e d b y t h e

U n it e d S t a te s , w h o s e r e p r e s e n t a t iv e s a p p lie d a l l t h e ir e ffo r ts t o

i m p o s e a d e c i s i o n w h i c h w o u l d a c c u s e t h e g u i l t l e s s a n d w h i t e w a s h t h e g u ilt y p a r t ie s , w it h n o r e g a r d f o r t h e f a c t t h a t s u c ha d e c i s i o n w o u l d c o n s t i t u t e a mo c k e ry o f f a c t s a n d l o g i c . .

A t t h e v e ry f i r s t s e s s i o n o f t h e C o u n c i l d e v o t e d t o d i s c u s s i o no f t h e C o m m i s s i o n ’ s r e p o r t , w h e n n o s i n g l e r e p r e s e n t a t i v e h a d

a s y e t v o ic e d h is a t t i t u d e t o t h e r e p o r t , t h e r e p r e s e n t a t iv e o f t h eU n it e d S t a t e s p r o p os e d a r e s o lu t io n o u t lin i n g t h e u t t e r l y g r o u n d

le s s d e m a n d s p u t fo r t h b y th e G o v e r n m e n t o f t h e U n it e d S t at e s .T h e r e s o l u t i o n p r o v i d e d f o r t h e s e t t i n g u p o f a c o m m i s s i o n o f

s o - c a lle d b o r d e r o b s e r v e r s , w h i c h is w it h o u t p r e c e d e n t i n t h eU n it e d N a t io n s O r g a n is a t io n . M o r e o v e r , t h is p r o p o s a l c o u l d in

n o w a y b e j u s t ifie d b y t h e s it u a t io n p r e v a ilin g o n G r e e c e ’s

N o r t h e r n fr o n t ie r s . T h e b o r d e r in c id e n t s w h ic h h a v e o c c u r r e d

o n t h e f r o n t ie r s o f Gr e e c e w it h Yu g o s la v ia , B u lg a r i a a n dA l b a n i a w e r e p r o v o k e d b y t h e G r e e k m i l i t a r i s t s a n d G r e e k a u t h o r i t ie s . I n o r d e r t o p r e v e n t t h e p o s s i b ilit y o f a r e c u r r e n c e o f

s u c h in c id e n t s t h e r e is a s i m p le a n d e f fe c t iv e m e a n s o f m a k in gt h e G r e e k G o v e r n m e n t ce a s e a t on ce t h e p r o v o c a t io n s o n t h e

b o r de r s ' o f Gr e e c e w it h h e r n e i g h b o u r s a n d e s t a b lis h n o r m a l

r e la t io n s w it h t h e m . B u t t h e a u t h o r s o f t h e p r o p o s a l t o s e t u p ac o m m is s io n o f b o r d e r o b s e r v e r s d i d n o t a g r e e t o t a k in g e ffe c t iv e

la w f u l m e a s u r e s w h ic h w o u ld p u t a n e n d t o b o r d e r pr o v o c a t io n s

e n g in e e r e d b y t h e G r e e k a u t h o r i tie s a n d c r e a te c o n d it io n s fo r

m a k in g t h e r e la t io n s n o r m a l b e t w e e n Gr e e c e a n d h e r n e ig h b o u r s . T h e y d e m a n d e d th e y b e g iv e n a n o p p o r t u n it y to r u l e int h e a r e a s b o r d e r i n g o n G r e e c e .

I t is c le a r t h a t t h e S o v ie t G o v e r n m e n t c o u ld n o t a g re e t o ap r o p o s a l a b o u t in s t it u t in g b o r d e r o b s e r ve r s . If t h e p r e s e n t G r e e k r u lin g c ir c le s a r e r e a d y t o a c c e p t t h e p r o p o s a l a b o u t o bs e r v e r s

a n d t h e r e b y s a c r ific e t h e s o v e r e ig n t y a n d in d e p e n d e n c e o f t h e irc o u n t r y , b e in g g u id e d b y i nt e r e s t s t h a t h a v e n o t h in g in c o m m o n

w it h t h e i n te r e s t s o f t h e G r e e k pe o p le , t h e n Yu g o s la v ia , B u l g a r i aa n d A l b a n i a a r e b y n o m e a n s b o u n d t o f o llo w s u it .

[Here Gromy ko dw elt fur ther on the history of the orga nisation of the Security Council’s Commission, recalling that the Commission was

vested 'with such powers and functions that the countries most con-

concerned were in fact excluded from solving the problem in question ]



o f t h e c r i m in a l p o lic y t h e G r e e k G o v e r n m e n t a p p lie s w it h r e g a r dt o t h e M a c e d o n ia n a n d A l b a n i a n , m in o r i t ie s .

T h e A m e r ic a n r e s o lu t io n a ls o c o n t a in e d o t h e r a b s o l ut e ly

u n a c c e p t a b l e a n d g r o u n d l e s s p r e m i s e s . T h u s i t w a s p r o p o s e d

t h a t t h e C o u n c il s h o u ld a p p r a is e t h e f u t u r e a c t io n s o f Yu g o - °s l a v ia , B u l g a r i a a n d A lb a n i a (a s to w h a t a c t io n s , n o o ne c o u ld

s a y a n y t h in g o n th is s c o re ) a s a t h r e a t t o p e a c e . T h e m e a n in g o f t h is p r o p o s a l w a s t h a t t h e C o m m is s io n c o u ld b y a m a jo r it y v o ted e c id e t h a t t h e a c t io n s o f t h e s e c o u n tr ie s c o n s t it u te d a t h r e a t t o

p e a c e , a n d t h is d e c is io n w a s d e c la r e d i n a d v a n c e t o b e s u ffic ie n tfo r s u c h c h a r g e s .

T h e a d o p t io n o f s u c h a p r o p o s a l w o u l d m e a n t h a t a m a j o r i t y

o f t h e C o m m i s s i o n , o b e d ie n t ly f o llo w in g t h e A m e r ic a n s , c o u ldc h a r g e A lb a n i a , B u l g a r ia a n d Y u g o s la v ia w it h o u t a n y g r o u n d s

w h a t e v e r w it h c r e a t in g a t h r e a t to pe a c e a n d s o ju s t if y t h eG r e e k a u t h o r i t ie s . T h e c o r r e c t ne s s o f s u c h a d e d u c t io n is c o n

fir m e d b y t h e fa c t t h a t a m a jo r it y o f t h e C o m m is s io n a c t u a l lyd r e w c o n c lu s io n s w h ic h u t t e r ly c o n t r a d ic t t h e r e a l s ta t e o f

a f fa ir s . I t is c le a r t h a t t h e a d o p t i o n o f s u c h a p r o p o s a l w o u ld no t'

o n ly a g g r a v a t e f u r t h e r t h e r e l a t io n s b e t w e e n G r e e c e a n d h e r

n e i g h bo u r s , b u t w o u ld a ls o c o m p r o m is e t h e S e c u r it y C o u n c ila n d t h e U n i te d N a t io n s O r g a n is a t io n a s a w h o le . In v ie w o f a l l

t h is , t h e r e p r e s e n t a t iv e s o f t h e U . S .S . R. i n t h e S e c u r i t y C o u n c ilc o u l d n o t a g r e e t o t h e a d o p t i o n o f t h i s u t t e r l y g r o u n d l e s s

p r o p o s a l a s w e ll. T h e S o v ie t p r o p o s a ls s u b m it t e d t o t h e S e c u r i t y

C o u n c il e n v i s a g e d r e c t ific a t io n o f t h e s it u a t io n i n G re e c e a n d t h ee s t a b lis h m e n t o f a f ir m f o u n d a t i o n fo r im p r o v i n g t h e r e l a t io n s

b e t w e e n Gr e e c e a n d S t a te s n e ig h b o u r in g o n he r . T h e s e p r o p o s a lse n v is a g e d s u c h m e a s u r e s a s t h e e s t a b lis h m e n t o f d ip lo m a t ic

r e l a tio n s b e t w e e n Gr e e c e o n t h e o ne h a n d a n d B u l g a r ia a n dA lb a n i a o n t h e o th e r , as w e ll a s m a k in g n o r m a l t h e d i p lo m a t ic

r e l a tio n s b e t w e e n Yu g o s l a v ia a n d Gr e e c e .

I t w o u ld s e e m t h a t t he s e S o v ie t p r o p o s a ls s h o u ld n o t h a v em e t w it h o b je c t io n e i th e r o n t h e p a r t o f t h e G r e e k a u t h o r it ie s

o r o n t h e p a r t o f t h e S t a te s r e p r e s e n t e d in t h e S e c u r it y C o u n c il

in a s m u c h a s th e y a c c o r d w it h t h e in t e r e s t s o f t h e S t a te s i n v o lv e din t h e d is p u t e a s w e ll a s w it h o u r c o m m o n in te r e s t s . Y e t t he s e

S o v i e t p r o p o s a l s w e r e n o t a d o p t e d , u n d e r v a r i o u s a r t i f i c i a l

p r e t e x t s . R e f u s a l t o a d o p t t h e p r o p o s a l c o n c e r n i n g t h e e s t a b l i s h m e n t a n d m a k i n g n o r m a l o f d ip l o m a t ic r e la t io n s b e t w e e n t h e s e

c o u n t r ie s c a n n o t b e j u s t if ie d in a n y c ir c u m s t a n c e s . It m e r e ly

e x po s e s s t ill f u r t h e r t h e t r u e p la n s o f c e r t a in P o w e r s in c o nn e c t i o n w i t h t h e e x a m i n a t i o n o f t h e G r e e k p r o b l e m . A f t e r t h e

r e j e c t io n o f t h e A m e r ic a n r e s o lu t io n it w o u l d s e e m t h a t t h eG o v e r n m e n t o f t h e U n i t e d S t a te s s h o u ld h a v e a r r i v e d a t th eo n l y p r o p e r c o n c lu s io n , t h e n e e d t o s e e k a s o l u t io n o f t h e G r e e k

p r o b le m o n a d iffe r e n t ba s is , b y m e a n s o f a d o p t in g s u c h d e c is io n sa s w o u l d a c t u a l ly p r o m o t e a n im p r o v e m e n t in t h e r e la t io n s b e

l l



t w e e n Gr e e c e a n d n e ig h b o u r in g S t a te s , a n d n o t to c o n t in u e t om is s t h e m a r k b y t r y in g t o a c c us e t h e g u ilt le s s p a r t ie s .

Ye t o n Au g u s t 12 t h e U n it e d S t a t e s c a m e o u t w it h s t ill m o r e

c r u d e c h a r g e s a g a i n s t Yu g o s la v ia , B u lg a r i a a n d A lb a n i a . T h e s ec h a rg e s w e r e a lr e a d y f o r m u la t e d in c o n fo r m it y w it h C h a p t e r V I I

o f t h e C h a r t e r , a s d i s t in c t fr o m t h e fir s t A m e r i c a n r e s o lu t io n ,w h ic h w a s s u b m i tt e d in c o n fo r m it y w it h C h a p t e r V I o f t h e

C h a r t e r . T h e A m e r ic a n r e s o lu t io n w h ic h f o llo w e d s e v e r a l d a y s

a ft e r t h e r e c e ip t o f a s im ila r l e t t e r fr o m T s a l da r is , fo r m e r P r im e

M i n i s t e r o f G r e e c e · , w a s , b o t h i n c o n t e n t a n d f o r m , g r o u n d l e s sa n d in s u l t in g t o Yu g o s la v ia , B u l g a r i a a n d Alb a n i a . It c o n t a in e d

r i d i c u l o u s a c c u s a t i o n s a g a i n s t t h e s e co u n t r i e s o f cr ea t i n g a

d a n g e r to p e a ce . T h e r e s o lu t io n a lle g e d t h a t t he s e c o u n t r ie s a r e

r e n d e r in g a id a n d s u p p o r t t o t h e G r e e k p a r t is a n s . It w a s . p e r fe c t ly e v id e n t t h a t t h is n e w A m e r ic a n r e s o l ut io n — g r o u nd le s s inc o n t e n t a n d d e lib e r a t e ly p r o v o c a t iv e in fo r m - ^e o u ld not- b e

a d o p t e d b y t h e S e c u r i t y C o u n c il. I t \ vas c le a r t o a n y o n e t h a t

d u r i n g t h e t w e l v e d a y s w h i c h p a s s e d b e t w e e n t h e d a t e o f t h e

r e j e c t io n o f t h e f ir s t A m e r ic a n r e s o lu t io n a n d t h e d a t e w h e nt h e s e c o nd A m e r ic a n r e s o lu t io n w a s s u b m it t e d n o t h in g h a d

c h a n g e d in Gr e e c e , ' no r in t h e w o r ld a t la r g e . T h e o n l y c h a n g ew a s t h a t t h e U n i t e d S t a te s h a d in t e n s i fie d s t ill m o r e h e r in t e r

fe r e n c e in t h e in t e r n a l a f fa ir s o f Gr e e c e , f a n n in g c i v il w a r in

Gr e e c e a n d u t ilis in g t h e s it u a t io n w h ic h h a d a r is e n in t h ec o u n t r y fo r p ur p o s e s t h a t h a v e n o t h i n g in c o m m o n w it h t h ein t e r e s t s o f t h e G r e e k pe o p le , o r w it h a n im p r o v e m e n t o f r e la

t io n s a m o n g t h e B a lk a n c o u n t r ie s .

S e v e r a l d a y s b e fo r e t h e s e c o n d r e s o lu t io n w a s s u b m it t e d , t h er e p r e s e n t a t iv e o f t h e U n it e d S t a te s w a s t r y i n g t o p r o v e t h a t h is

G o v e r n m e n t h a d n o in t e n t io n o f a c c us in g Yu g o s la v ia , B u l g a r iaa n d A lb a n ia , a n d t h a t t h e A m e r ic a n p r o p o s a ls w e r e n o t dir e c t e d

a g a in s t a n y o ne c o u n t r y b u t m e r e ly a im e d a t im p r o v in g r e la t io n sb e t w e e n Gr e e c e a n d h e r n e ig h b o u r s . T h e s e s t a t e m e n t s w e r e ,

h o w e v e r , f o r g o t t e n a f te r s e v e r a l d a y s . Ne v e r t h e le s s , ' t h e i n t r o

d u c t io n o f t h e s e c o nd Am e r ic a n r e s o lu t io n a m a z e d w it h it s s e n s e

le s s ne s s e v e n th o s e w h o h a d n o d o u b t t h a t w h a t w a s in q u e s t io nw a s n o t g e n u in e a t t e m p t s t o f in d a p r o p e r s o l u tio n o f t h is p r o b

le m i n th e in t e r e s t s o f p e a c e b u t a p o l it ic a l g a m e . I t b e c a m e e v e n

m o r e o b v io u s t h a t t h e U n it e d S ta t e s d id n o t in t e n d t o m a k es e r io us a t t e m p t s a t a p r o p e r s e t t le m e n t o f t h e G r e e k is s u e in t h e

in te r e s t s o f m a in t a in i n g i n t e r n a t io n a l pe a c e be c a u s e i t p u r s u e d

it s o w n e n d s in Gr e e c e . I t is c le a r t h a t t h e S o v ie t U n io n c o u l dn o t a g r e e w it h t h e s e - ne w A m e r i c a n p r o p o s a ls e it h e r .

T h e A m e r i c a n r e p r e s e n t a t iv e in t h e S e c u r it y C o u n c i l d id n o t

c o n c e a l t h e f a c t t h a t t h e in t r o d u c t io n o f t h e n e w A m e r ic a nr e s o lu t io n a i m e d t o p r o v o k e t h e S o v ie t U n i o n t o a p p l y t h e “ v e t o ”a n d t o c r e a t e a m o r e fa v o u r a b le s i t u a t io n f or t h e U n it e d S ta t e sfo r b r i n g in g t h e G r e e k q u e s t io n to t h e G e n e r a l A s s e m b ly W e



A u g u s t 12 t h a t t h e U n it e d S ta t e s w a s n o t w o r r i e d w h e t h e r th e

n e w A m e r i c a n r e s o l ut io n w a s a d o p t e d b u t t h a t in t h e o p in io n o f t h e U n it e d S ta t e s G o v e r n m e n t i i a m a j o r i t y in t h e C o u n c ils u p p d r t e d th is r e so lu tio n ,, e v e n if i t we re n o t a d o p te d , t h is w o u ld

b e fa v o u r a b le t o t h e U n i te d S ta t e s f r o m t h e s t a n d p o i n t of p r e p a r i n g g r o u n d f o r r a i s in g t h is q u e s t io n a t t h e G e n e r a l A s s e m b ly .

S u c h w e r e t h e t a c tic s e m p lo y e d b y t h e r e p r e s e n t a t iv e s o f t h eU n it e d S t a te s in t h e S e c u r it y C o u n c il d u r in g t h e e x a m i n a t io n o f

t h e G r e e k is s u e , t a c tic s w h i c h le a v e n o d o u b t a s t o t h e t r u ein t e n t io n s o f t h e a u t h o r s o f t h e s e p r o p o s a ls . A s i m i la r a i m w a s

a ls o p u r s u e d b y t h e in t r o d u c t io n i n t h e S e c u r it y C o u n c il o f t h e

A u s t r a lia n r e s o lu t io n o n t h e G r e e k q u e s t io n , w h ic h w a s m e r e lya s e c o n d e d i t io n o f t h e s e c o n d A m e r i c a n r e s o l u tio n a n d c o n

t a i n e d a ll t h e b a s ic d e fe c t s o f t h e la t t e r .

I h a v e a lr e a d y p o in t e d o u t e a r l ie r t h a t t h e c h ar g e s p r e s e n t e d

t o t h e S e c u r i t y C o u n c i l a g a i n s t Y u g o s l a v i a , B u l g a r i a a n d 'A l b a n i a a r e g r o un d le s s . T h e f o r m u l a t io n o f t h e c h a r g e le v e lle d

a g a in s t t h e s e c o u n tr ie s b y t h e U n it e d S t a te s a t t h e A s s e m b ly

s e s s io n is m e r e ly c o u ch e d in s o m e w h a t c r u d e r t e r m s t h a n e a r lie r

f o r m u l a t io n s . T h i s is a ls o c o n fir m e d b y t h e s t a t e m e n t o f t h e

A m e r i c a n d e l e g a t i o n o n t h i s i s s u e m a d e i n t h e P o l i t i c a l C o m

m i t t e e o n S e p t e m b e r 2 5, as w e ll a s t h e la t e s t A m e r i c a n p r o p o s a lso n t h i s p r o b l e m .

T h e S o v ie t d e le g a t io n d e e ms , i t ne c e s s a r y t o s t a t e f r a n k l y t h a t

t h e t h r e a t t o t he p o l it ic a l in d e p e n d e n c e o f G r e e c e is c r e a t e d n o t

b y t h e a c t i v it ie s o f G r e e c e ’s n e ig h b o u r s b u t b y t h e c o n t i n u e d

f o r e ig n in t e r v e n t i o n in t h e i n t e r n a l a f fa ir s o f Gr e e c e e ffe c t e db y o t h e r S t a te s . U n t il r e c e n t ly t h is in t e r v e n t io n w a s m a n i fe s t e d

in t h e p r e s e n c e o f B r i t is h t r o o p s in G r e e c e a n d i n t h e a c t iv it ie s

o f t h e B r it i s h m ilit a r y a n d c i v ilia n a u t h o r it ie s in Gr e e c e .A s is k n o w n ,- la t e ly t h e c h ie f r o le in t h is r e s p e c t h a s b e e n

a s s u m e d b y t h e U n it e d S ta t e s . A l l o f u s k n o w a b o u t t h e o ffic ia l

p o lic y w it h r e g a r d t o Gr e e c e p r o c la im e d b y t h e U n i t e d S t a te sG o v e r n m e n t . T h e o p e r a t io n o f t h is p o l ic y c o n s t it u te s b l a t a n tin t e r fe r e n c e i n t h e i n t e r n a l a ff a ir s o f Gr e e c e , w h i c h is m a n i fe s t e d

in v a r io u s w a y s . P a r t i c u l a r l y is it e x p r e s s e d i n . t h e s e n d in g o f

s o - c a lle d m il it a r y in s t r u c t o r s t o G r e e c e w h o s e n u m b e r , i t is s a i d ,r e a c h e s 18 ,000. T h e s e n d in g o f s u c h in s t r u c t o r s , m o r e o v e r , u n d e r

c o n d it io n s o f in t e r n a l s t r u g g le b e t w e e n t h e d e m o c r a t ic a n d a n t i

d e m o c r a t i c f o r c e s o f G r e e c e , c o n s t i t u t e s a v i o l a t i o n o f t h e s o v e r e i g nt y o f Gr e e c e w h i c h is i n c o m p a t i b le w it h t h e p r in c ip le s o f

t h e U n it e d N a t io n s . T h is in t e r f e r e n c e is a l s o e x p r e s s e d in t h eo p e n p o l it ic a l s u p p o r t t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s i s ' r e n d e r i n g t o o n e o f t h e

b e l lig e r e n t s i n Gr e e c e , a s , fo r e x a m p le ' w a s t h e c a s e e a r l y inS e p t e m b e r w h e n a n o ffic ia l r e p r e s e n t a t iv e o f t h e "U n it e d S t a t e s

d e c i de d t h e q u e s t io n c o n c e r n in g t h e c o m p o s it io n o f t h e G r e e k G o v e r n m e n t , s e le c t in g t h e fo r m m o s t s u it a b le b e a r i n g in m i n d

t h e a p p r o a c h o f th e G e n e r a l A s s e m b l y s e s s io n.T h e p o lic y o f t h e U n i t e d S t a te s G o v e r n m e n t w it h r e g a r d t o

13



G r e e c e i s s o m e t i m e s c a l l e d a i d t o t h a t c o u n t r y . T h i s e x p r e s s i o nh a s g a in e d p a r t ic u l a r c u r r e n c y in t h e U n it e d S t at e s . E v e n b e fo r e

t h is t h e S o v ie t G o v e r n m e n t h a d p o i n te d o u t t h a t t h is p o lic y h a dn o t h in g i n c o m m o n w it h r e a l h e lp t o Gr e e c e . As a c o u n t r y w h ic hs u f fe r e d g r a v e ly f ro m t h e Fa s c is t o c c u p a t i o n , Gre e c e is , o f c o ur s e ,

in n e e d o f e c o n o m ic a i d f r o m o u ts id e . H o w e v e r , w h a t is b e i n gd o n e i n G r e e c e n o w is n o t a i d to G r e e c e , b u t f o r e ig n in t e r fe r e n c ein h e r in t e r n a l a f fa ir s w h ic h m e a n s h e r p o l it ic a l a n d e c o n o m ic

e n s la v e m e n t b y c e r t a in s t r o ng P o w e r s . I t is n o t f o r t u it o u s , e v id e n t ly , t h a t t h e G o v e r n m e n t o f t h e U n it e d S t a t e s d e c id e d to

c a r r y o u t it s m e a s u r e s i n G r e e c e o u t s id e t h e U n it e d N a t io n sO r g a n i s a t i o n a n d i n c i r c u m v e n t i o n o f t h i s O r g a n i s a t i o n .

T h e S o v ie t G o v e r n m e n t h a d r e p e a t e d ly p o in te d t o t h e im p e r m is s ib i lit y o f fo r e ig n in t e r v e n t i o n i n t h e in t e r n a l a ffa ir s o f

Gr e e c e a n d t o t h e n e e d fo r e n s u r in g t h a t e c o n o m ic a i d r e n d e r e d

t o Gr e e c e f r o m o u t s id e s h o u ld b e u t ilis e d o n l y i n t h e in t e r e s t so f th e G r e e k pe o p le . H o w e v e r , t h e r e s p e c t iv e S o v ie t p r o p o s a l w a s

n o t a d o p t e d m a i n l y b e c a u s e o f t h e o b je c t io n s o f t h e U n i te dS t a t e s G o v e r n m e n t . It is n o t d if fic u l t t o u n d e r s t a n d t h a t t he

S o v ie t p r o p o s a l p r o v e d u n a c c e p t a b le t o th e U n it e d S ta t e sb e c a us e it r a n c o u n t e r to t h e e x p a n s i o n is t p o lic y p u r s u e d b y t h e

U n i t e d S t a te s in Gr e e c e a n d a c c o m p a n i e d b y in t e r f e r e n c e i n h e ri n t e rn a l a f f a i r s .

A s im ila r p r o p o s a l w a s in t r o d u c e d b y th e S o v ie t G o v e r n m e n tin t h e S e c u r it y C o u n c il d u r i n g t h e d is c u s s io n o f t h e C o m m i s s io n ’s

r e p o r t c o n c e r n in g t h e in v e s t ig a t io n o f in c id e n t s o n t h e G r e e k b o rd e r . T h is t ime , to o , t h e So v i e t p ro p o s a l d i d n o t f in d t h ea p p r o p r i a t e s u p p o r t i n t h e S e c u r i t y C o u n c i l , b e c a u s e i t w a s

s t r e n u o u s ly o p po s e d b y t h e r e p r e s e n t a t iv e s o f t h e U n it e d S t a te s .I n a d d i t io n t o t h is p r o p o s a l, w h i c h o b v io u s ly w a s w e ll- fo u n d e d

a n d t im e ly , t h e S o v ie t G o v e r n m e n t a ls o s u b m i t te d t o th e S e c u r i tyC o u n c il a pr o p o s a l f o r th e w it h d r a w a l o f 3I I f o r e i g n t r o o p s a n dfo r e ig n m ilit a r y p e r s o n n e l f r o m Gr e e c e . N o r d id t h is p r o p o s a l

f in d d u e s u p p o r t in t h e S e c u r it y C o u n c i l p r im a r i ly i n v ie w o f t h eo b je c t io n s , fo r u n d e r s t a n d a b l e r e a s o n s , o n t h e p a r t o f t h e U n it e dS t a t e s .

In s u c h c i r cu m s t a nc e s , w h e n in t e r fe r e n c e in t h e in t e r n a la f f a i r s o f G re e c e i s b e i n g e f f e c t e d b y t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s , t h eG o v e r n m e n t o f t h e U n it e d S ta t e s r e q ue s t s t h e Ge n e r a l A s s e m b ly

t o s a f e g u a r d Gr e e c e f r o m a t h r e a t to h e r in d e p e n d e n c e a n dt e r r it o r ia l in t e g r i t y . T h e q u e s t io n in v o l u n t a r ily a r is e s : w h a t ist h e e x p la n a t io n fo r t h is s t e p t a k e n b y th e U n it e d S t a te s G o v e r n m e n t ? W h a t is t h e e x p la n a t io n fo r it s d e m a n d t o p r o t e c t Gr e e c e

fr o m a t h r e a t to h e r in d e p e n d e n c e w h e n t h e t h r e a t to G r e e k

in d e p e n d e n c e c o me s f- rom t h e U n it e d S t a t e s ?Is n o t t h is t o be e x p la i n e d b y t h e d e s ir e t o d is t r a c t w o r ld p u b lic

o p in io n f r o m t h e r e a l s it u a t io n in Gr e e c e a n d f r o m t h e r e a lr e a s o n s w h i c h c a u s e d t h is s i t u a t io n ? T h is q u e s t io n is le g it im a t ea n d o p p o r t u n e . I t a r is e s f r o m t h e f a c t s , f r o m t h e lo g ic o f e v e n t s .



T h e s i t u a t i o n d o e s n o t c h a n g e b e c a u s e t h e p r e s e n t r u l e r s o f

Gr e e c e a ls o s h o u t a b o u t a n a lle g e d e x is t i ng t h r e a t t o Gr e e c e

f r o m n e ig h b o u r in g c o u nt r ie s . T h e fa c t s , h o w e v e r , s h o w t h a t t h e s er u le r s , w h o t he m s e lv e s c a m e t o p o w e r a s a r e s u l t o f fo r e ig n

in t e r v e n t i o n , i n r e a l it y t r a d e o n G r e e c e ’s in d e p e n d e n c e , do n o t

e n j o y t h e s u p p o r t o f t h e p e o p l e a n d a r e r e a d y t o s a c r i f i c e t h e

in d e p e n d e n c e a n d s o v e r e ig n ty o f t h e ir c o u n t r y i n o r d e r t o r e c e iv et h e s u p p o r t o f t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s a n d p r o l o n g t h e e x i s t e n c e o f t h e

p o l it ic a l r e g im e e s t a b lis h e d in Gr e e c e . T h e f a c t t h a t t h e G r e e k G o v e r n m e n t s u p po r t s t he d e m a n d o f t h e U n it e d S t a te s G o v e r n

m e n t s h o w s e v e n m o r e c l e a r ly t h e a by s s t o w a r d s w h ic h G r e e c e

is b e in g p r o p e lle d b y h e r p r e s e n t r u le r s .

T h e t h r e a t t o Gr e e c e a c t u a l ly e x is t s , b u t t h is t h r e a t c om e sfr o m c e r t a in s t r o n g Po w e r s w h ic h a r e t r y i n g t o t r a n s f o r m Gr e e c e

in t o t h e ir o w n p o lit ic a l a n d e c o n o m ic a p p e n d a g e , r e g a r d le s s o f

t h e f a c t t h a t t h is is i n c o m p a t i b le w it h t h e v it a l n a t i o n a l in t e r e s t s

o f t h e G r e e k p e o p le a n d w it h t h e in d e p e n d e n c e o f Gr e e c e as a

S t a te . T h e G r e e k is s u e c a n n o t b e s e t t le d b y t h e m e t h o d t h eU n i t e d S t a te s G o v e r n m e n t h a s a d o p t e d . T h e in s in u a t i o n s a n d

t h r e a t s t o w h i c h i t r e s o r ts d o n o t , o f c o ur s e , f a c ilit a t e b u t h a m p e r

t h e p r o p e r s o l u t i o n o f t h i s p r o b l e m .

T h e s it u a t i o n in G r e e c e c a n b e r e n d e r e d h e a l t h y a n d r e l a t io n s

b e t w e e n h e r a n d h e r n e ig h b o ur s c a n b e i m p r o v e d o n ly b y t he

im m e d ia t e a n d c omple te - d is c o n t in u a t i o n o f fo r e ig n in t e r f e r e n c e

i n t h e in t e r n a l a f fa ir s o f Gr e e c e a n d t h e r e s t o r a t io n o f t h e

in d e p e n d e n c e o f Gr e e c e a n d h e r p e o p le .

■ T h e r a i s i n g o f t h e G r e e k is s u e a t t h e G e n e r a l A s s e m b l y b y t h e

G o v e r n m e n t o f t h e U n it e d S t a te s , a s w e ll a s it s e n t ir e p o lic y w it h

r e g a r d t o G re e c e , . r u n c o u n te r t o t h e e s t a b l is h m e n t o f in t e r n a t io n a l c o - o pe r a t io n a n d g o od n e i g h b o u r ly r e la t io n s a m o n g

S t a t e s a n d c a us e s e r io us h a r m t o t h e U n i t e d N a t io n s O r g a n is a

t io n , t o t h e c a u s e o f in t e r n a t io n a l c o - o p e r a t io n a n d , fir s t a n d

fo r e m o s t , to c o - o pe r a t io n a m o n g t h e c h i e f P o w e r s u p o n w h o m

d e v o lv e s t h e m a i n r e s p o n s i b ilit y fo r m a i n t a in i n g i n t e r n a t io n a l

p e a c e a n d s e c u r it y .x T h e c o r r e c t n e s s o f s u c h a c o n c l us i o n is c o n f ir m e d b y s t a t e

m e n t s m a d e b y o ffic ia l U n i t e d S t a t e s r e p r e s e n t a t iv e s i n t h e

S e c u r it y C o u n c i l t o th e e f fe c t t h a t t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s is r e a d y t o

a c t i n t h is m a t t e r i n c ir c u m v e n t io n o f t h e U n i t e d N a t io n s , s h o u ldit s p r o p o s a ls o n t h e G r e e k q u e s t io n n o t b e a c c e p t e d . Re f e r e n c e

w a s m a d e t o A r t i c le 51 o f t h e C h a r t e r . T h e r e fe r e n c e t o A r t i c le51, w h i c h p r o v i d e s f o r t h e r i g h t o f n a t io n s t o s e l f- d e fe n c e in t h e

e v e n t o f a r m e d a t t a c k , i s u n t e n a b l e , b e c a u s e n o o n e t h r e a t e n s

e i t h e r t h e U n i t e d S ta t e s o r Gr e e c e . It is n o t a c c id e n t a l t h a t t h e

c o r r e s p o n d i ng s t a t e m e n t w it h r e f e r e n c e t o t h is A r t ic l e , m a d e b y

t h e r e p r e s e n t a t iv e o f t h e U n it e d S t a t e s i n t h e S e c u r it y C o u n c il,

w a s u n d e r s t o o d b y p u b l ic o p i n io n a n d t h e pr e s s a s a h i n t t o

o p e n, a r m e d in t e r v e n t io n b y t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s i n Gr e e c e a n d as

a n a t t e m p t t o j u s t if y s u c h a c t io n s . I t goe s w it h o u t s a y i n g t h a t

15



t h o s e w h o m a k e s u c h s t a t e m e n t s b e a r t h e r e s p o n s i b ilit y b o t h

f o r t he s t a t e m e n t s a n d fo r th e a c t io n s ta k e n in im p le m e n t a t io no f s u c h s t a t e m e n t s .

W i t h o u t g o in g in t o a n a n a ly s is o f t h e r e a s o n s w h y t h e G ov e r n- 'm e n t o f t h e U n it e d S t a te s c ho s e th e G r e e k is s u e t o d is r u p t

c o l la b o r a t io n in t h e U n i t e d N a t io n s O r g a n i s a t io n , w e m u s td e c la r e fr a n k ly a n d u n e q u iv o c a lly t h a t t h is is a d a n g e r o u s a n d

h a r m f u l p a t h fo r t h e O r g a n is a t io n , b e c a u s e i t u n d e r m in e s t h e

f o u n d a t i o n s f o r t h e s u c c e s s f u l a c t i v i t y b y t h i s O r g a n i s a t i o n i n

t h e m a in t e n a n c e o f p e a c e a n d in fo s t e r in g a n d c o n s o lid a t in g

f r i e n , d l y r e l a t i o n s a m o n g S t a t e s . T h e S o v i e t d e l e g a t i o n c o n s i d e r s

it ne c e s s a r y to w a r n n o t o n ly t ho s e w h o b e a r t h e d ir e c t r e s p o n

s i b i l i t y f o r t h i s s i t u a t i o n , b u t a l s o t h o s e w h o l e n d d i r e c t o r

in d i r e c t s u p p o r t t o a p o l ic y w h i c h h a r m s t h e e n t ir e c a u s e o f

in t e r n a t io n a l c o lla b o r a t io n w it h i n t h e fr a m e w o r k o f t h e U n it e d

N a t i o n s O r g a n i s a t i o n .I n c o n c l u s i o n t h e S o v i e t d e l e g a t i o n s u b m i t s t h e f o l l o w i n g

p r o p o s a l s :

I. H a v in g e x a m i n e d t h e G r e e k is s u e in c lu d e d in t h e

a g e n d a o f th e A s s e m b ly a t t h e r e q u e s t o f t h e U n i te d

S t a te s G o v e r n m e n t , th e G e n e r a l A s s e m b ly c o ns id e r s a s .

e s t a b l i s h e d :

(1 ) T h a t th e G r e e k a u t h o r it ie s a r e r e s p o n s ib le f o r

t h e i n c id e n t s w h i c h o c c u r r e d o n t h e bo r d e r s o f Gr e e c ew it h Yu g o s l a v ia , B u l g a r ia a n d A lb a n i a . T h e in v e s t ig a

t io n o f t h e s it u a t i o n o n t h e s p o t, c o n d u c t e d b y t h e

C o m m i s s i o n o f t h e S e c u r i t y C o u n c il, c o n f ir m e d t h e

c o n n e c t io n b e t w e e n th e in c id e n t s a n d t h e g e n e r a l

in i m i c a l p o lic y p u r s u e d b y t h e p r e s e n t G r e e k Go v e r n

m e n t w it h r e g a r d t o t h e c o un tr ie s n e ig h b o u r in g o n

Gr e e c e ; ■ ··-(2 ) T h e in t e r n a l s it u a t io n in G r e e c e , as is s e e n f r o m

t h e r e p o r t o f t h e C o m m is s io n w h ic h in v e s t ig a t e d c o n d it io n s o n t h e G r e e k b o rd e r s , is c h a r a c t e r is e d b y t h e in t e n

s ific a t io n o f t h e s t r u g g le b e t w e e n t h e G r e e k p e o p le a n d

t h e a n t i- d e m o c r a t ic fo r c e s g r o u p e d a r o u n d th e p r e s e n t

G r e e k G o v e r n m e n t a n d is t h e b a s ic fa c t o r w h i c h c a us e dt h e t e n s e s it u a t i o n a ls o in t h e N o r t h e r n , b o r d e r a r e a s o f

Gr e e c e , w h ic h w a s u t ilis e d b y t h e G r e e k m ilit a r is t s fo r

p r o v o c a t i v e a c tio n s a g a in s t Yu g o s la v ia , B u lg a r i a a n d

A l b a n ia . T h e s e a c t io n s , f a r f r o m b e in g c u t s h o r t b y t h e

p r e s e n t G r e e k G o v e r n m e n t , a r e o n t h e c o n t r a r y b e in g

e n c o u r a g e d a n d j u s t i f i e d ;

(3 ) T h e e x i s t in g s it u a t io n i n Gr e e c e , in c lu d in g h e r

N o r t h e r n d is t r ic t s , is t o a la r g e e x t e n t t h e c o n s e q u e n c e

o f fo r e ig n i n t e r v e n t io n i n t h e i n t e r n a l a ffa ir s o f Gr e e c e .

T h is in t e r f e r e n c e is u s e d b y t h e a n t i- d e m o c r a t ic c ir c le so f G r e e c e , a m o n g w h o m c o n s i d e r a b l e i n f l u e n c e i s e n

j o y e d b y e l e m e n t s w h o c o m p r o m i s e d t h e m s e l v e s e a r l i e r



b y c o l l a b o r a t i o n w i t h t h e F a s c i s t o c c u p a t i o n f o r c e s , a n d

is o ne o f t h e r e a s o n s f o r t h e f u r t h e r a g g r a v a t io n o f t h es it u a t i o n in t h e c o u n t r y . I t h a m p e r s t h e p o s s i b ilit y o f

e s t a b lis h in g n o r m a l r e la t io n s b e t w e e n G re e c e a n d h e r

n e ig h b o u r c o u nt r ie s .

II. W i t h t h e a i m o f r e g u l a t in g r e la t io n s b e t w e e n .Gr e e c e o n t h e o ne h a n d , a n d Yu g o s l a v ia , B u lg a r i a a n d

A lb a n i a o n th e o t h e r , t h e G e n e r a l A s s e m b ly r e c o m

m e n d s :

(1 ) T h e G o v e r n m e n t o f G re e c e t o t a k e m e a s u r e s fo rt h e c e s s a t i o n o f b o r d e r i n c i d e n t s a t t h e f r o n t i e r s w i t hYu g o s la v i a , B u lg a r i a a n d A lb a n i a ;

(2 ) T h e e s t a b l is h m e n t o f n o r m a l d ip l o m a t ic r e la t io n sb e t w e e n Gr e e c e o n t h e o ne h a n d , a n d B u l g a r ia a n dA l b a n i a o n t h e o t h e r , a n d t h e m a k in g n o r m a l o f d ip lo

m a t i c r e l a t i o n s b e t w e e n G r e e c e a n d Y u g o s l a v i a ;

( 3 ) T h e G o v e r n m e n t s o f G r e e c e , Y u g o s l a v i a , B u l g a r i a a n d A l b a n i a t o r e s u m e t h e b i l a t e r a l c o n v e n t i o n sp r o v i d i n g f o r t h e r e g u l a t i o n o f b o r d e r i n c i d e n t s w h i c h

h a d b e e n in fo r c e h it h e r t o o r t o c o n c lu d e n e w

c o n v e n t i o n s ;( 4 ), T h e G o v e r n m e n t o f Gr e e c e o n th e o n e h a n d , a n d

t h e G o v e r n m e n t s o f Yu g o s l a v ia , B u l g a r ia a n d A l b a n i a

o n t h e o t h e r , t o r e g u l a t e t h e q u e s t i o n o f r e f u g e e s i n t h e

s p ir it o f m u t u a l u n d e r s t a n d in g , a n d t h e e s t a b l is h m e n t

o f fr i e n d l y r e l a tio n s b e t w e e n t h e s e c o u n tr ie s ;(5 ) T h e G o v e r n m e n t o f Gr e e c e to c a r r y o u t t h e n e c e s

s a r y m e a s u r e s fo r e n s u r in g t h e e lim i n a t i o n o f a n y d is c r i m in a t io n w it h r e g a r d t o c it iz e n s o f M a c e d o n ia n . a n d A l

b a n i a n n a t io n a l it y w h o r e s id e o n th e t e r r it o r y o f Gr e e c eh a v i n g in v ie w g r a n t in g t h e m t h e o p p o r t u n it y t o u s e

t h e ir n a t i v e t o n g u e a n d t o d e v e lo p t h e ir n a t io n a l c u lt u r e ;

(6 ) T h e G o v e r n m e n t s o f A lb a n i a , B u lg a r ia , Yu g o

s l a v ia a n d Gr e e c e , u p o n t h e t e r m in a t io n o f a t hr e e -m o n t h p e r io d , to r e p o r t to t h e G e n e r a l S e c r e t a r y f o r

th e in f o r m a t io n o f th e m e m b e r s o f U N O o n t h e i m

p le m e n t a t io n o f t h e r e c o m m e n d a t io n s p r o v id e d in t he

A s s e m b l y ’s p r e s e n t r e s o l u tio n .I II . W it h t h e a i m o f p r o m o t in g r e c o v e r y o f t h e

in t e r n a l p o l it ic a l s i t u a t io n in Gr e e c e a n d c r e a t in g c o n

d it io n s f o r t h e d e v e lo p m e n t o f a n in d e p e n d e n t , d e m o c r a t ic G r e e k S t a t e a n d o f im p r o v i n g r e la t io n s w it h

Gr e e c e a n d h e r n e ig h b o u r in g c o u nt r ie s , th e G e n e r a l

A s s e m b ly r e c o m m e n d s : t h e w it h d r a w a l o f fo r e ig nt r oo p s a n d fo r e ig n m i lit a r y p e r s o n n e l f r o m Gr e e c e .

IV . W it h t h e a i m o f e n s u r in g p r o p e r u t i lis a t i o n o f

f o r e i g n e c o n o m i c a i d g r a n t e d t o G r e e c e , t h e G e n e r a l

A s s e m b ly d e c id e s t o s e t u p a s p e c i a l c o m m is s io n w h i c h

w o u ld s e c u r e b y m e a n s o f a p p r o p r ia t e s u p e r v is i o n t h e

17



u t i lis a t io n o f s u c h a i d o n ly in t h e in t e r e s t s o f t h e G r e e k

p e o p l e .

I I

D. Z. M A N U I L S K Y ’S S P E E C H A T T H E P O L I T I C A L

C O M M I T T E E , OC T OBE R 3, 1947

ON O c t o b e r 3 t h e P o l it ic a l C o m m it t e e o f U N O G e n e r a lA s s e m b l y c o n t i n u e d d i s c u s s i o n o f t h e G r e e k q u e s t i o n . T h eh e a d o f t h e U k r a in i a n d e le g a t io n , D . Z . M a n u ils k y , e x p o s e d t h

u t t e r in c o n s i s t e n c y o f t h e A m e r i c a n d e le g a t i o n ’s a t t e m p t s t o p u t

t h e b la m e fo r t h e c i v il w a r in G r e e c e o n h e r n o r t h e r n n e ig h b o u r s .H e p r o v e d t h a t th e s e a t t e m p t s w e r e la u n c h e d w it h t h e d e f in it ea i m o f d is t r a c t in g t h e w o r ld ’s a t t e n t io n f r o m t h e g ro s s An glo -A m e r i c a n i n t e r v e n t i o n i n G r e e k i n t e r n a l a f f a i r s .

“ Fa c t s , l o g i c a n d c o mmo n s e n s e , ” s a i d D . Z . M a n u i l s k y , “ o p

p os e t h is f a ls if ie d p r e s e n t a t io n o f t h e G r e e k q u e s t io n , t h e p r e s e n t i n i t i a t o r s o f w h i c h a r e c o m m i t t i n g d o w n r i g h t i n t e r n a t i o n a lf r a u d . T h e s u m a n d s u b s t a n c e o f t h i s f r a u d c o n s i s t s i n t h e f a c t

t h a t t h e s t a te s g u ilt y o f in t e r v e n t io n in Gr e e ce ,' o f u n l e a s h in g

c i v il w a r t h e r e , o f v io l a t in g t h e in d e p e n d e n c e o f Gr e e c e a n d h e r

n a t i o n a l s o v e r e i g n t y , o f e n d a n g e r i n g p e a c e a n d s e c u r i t y , t r y t o

a c t as a c cus e r s o f th e t h r e e B a lk a n S ta t e s w h o s e G o v e r n m e n t sh a v e r e p e a t e d ly a c c u s e d th o s e w h o w e r e a c t u a lly g u ilt y o f v io

la t i n g t h e U N O C h a r t e r b y m e a n s o f t h e a b o v e a c t io n s . A n dt he s e G o v e r n m e n t s h a v e e v e r y r e a s o n t o d ay * t oo , t o a c t a s t h e

p r o s e c u t in g . a t t o r n e y d e f e n d i n g p e a c e a n d s e c u r it y i n t h eB a l k a n s .

“ T h e p r o p o n e n t s o f t h e s o - c alle d T r u m a n d o c t r in e d o n o t e v e nt h in k it e s s e n tia l f o r th e m s e lv e s t o r e fu t e t h e u n iv e r s a lly k n o w nfa c ts . T h e y m e r e ly d e c r e e t h e ir a r b i t r a r y c on ce p ts . T he s e c o n

c e pt s go e v e n fu r t h e r t h a n t h e c o nc lu s io n s o f t h e m a j o r it y o f t h e S e c u r i t y C o u n c il’s c o m m i s s i o n , w h o m a y le a s t o f a ll b e a c c u s e d o f a n im p a r t ia l a n d p e a c e a b le a t t it u d e t o w a r d s Yu g o s la v i a ,

B u l g a r ia a n d A lb a n ia . W e w e r e p r e s e n t e d w it h a s a m p le o f s u c h a n a t t i t u d e t o w a r d s t h e q u e s t i o n u n d e r c o n s i d e r a t i o n i n

t h e s p e e c h d e l iv e r e d b y t h e U . S . r e p r e s e n t a t iv e , M r . Jo h n s o n .“ T h e U k r a i n i a n d e l e g a t i o n b e l i e v e s i t n e c e s s a r y t o d w e l l o n

t h is s p e e c h a t s o m e le n g t h . In s o d o in g , w e s h a l l h a v e t o c o m p a r eM r . J o h n s o n ’s p o lit ic a l c o n c lu s io n s w it h t h e r e p o r t a n d c o n c l u

s io ns o f t h e m a j o r it y o f t h e S e c u r i t y C o u n c i l’s c o m m is s io n a n dw it h s e v e r a l t e s t im o n ie s g iv e n b y w it ne s s e s . N o r s h a l l w e f a ilt o ' m e n t i o n t h a t t h e t r e m e n d o u s file s o f th e c o m m is s io n , fillin g

a w h o l e r o o m — f i l e s w h i c h n o n e o f t h o s e p r e s e n t h e r e w o u l d b ea b l e to r e a d th o r o u g h ly — a ls o s e r v e a s a m e t h o d o f p o lit ic a ld iv e r s i o n , in t e n d e d t o c o n fu s e t h e is s u e a n d t o d r o w n th e c l e a r

p o lit ic a l p r o b l e m o f in t e r v e n t io n i n Gr e e c e , a n d o f it s c u lp r it s ,i n a c o n t r o v e r s y o v e r t h e t e s t i m o n i e s o f s o m e G o l o g a n o v o rB a l t a d o r o s .



“ M r . Jo h n s o n p r o c la im s it a s in d i s p u t a b le t h a t t h e Yu g o s la vG o v e r n m e n t , a n d th e B u lg a r ia n a n d A lb a n i a n G o v e r n m e n t s t o ale s s e r e x t e n t , h a v e b e e n s u p p o r t in g ' t h e g u e r i lla w a r in G r e e c e .T h is c o n c l u s io n is b a s e d o n a l e g e n d t o .t h e e f fe c t t h a t t h e r e w a s

a m ilit a r y s c h o o l in t h e v illa g e o f B u lk e s i n t h e t e r r it o r y o f Yu g o s la v i a . B u t it w ill b e r e m e m b e r e d t h a t Za c h o s a n d Ga t s io s ,

t h e tw o m a in w it ne s s e s fo r t h e G r e e k s id e , h a v e r e p u d i a t e d t h e iro w n t e s t i m o n i e s . T h e c o m m i s s i o n ’ s g r o u p , w h i c h v i s i t e d B u l k e s ,

d i d n o t fin d a n y t r a c e o f a n y m ilit a r y a c t iv it ie s t he r e . Be fo r e t h ei n s p e c t i o n t r i p t o t h a t v i l l a g e , f o r e i g n c o r r e s p o n d e n t s o f t e n w e n t

t h e r e , o w i n g to t h e p r e s e n c e o f t h r o n g s o f r e fu g e e s . A m il it a r ys c h o ol in a t i n y h a m l e t is n o t a n e e d le y o u c a n h id e a w a y in ah a y s t a c k . A n y o n e w h o k n o w s a n y t h in g a b o u t th e j o u r n a l is t i c

p r o fe s s io n , e s p e c ia lly in a c o u n t r y lik e t h e U n it e d S t a t e s , w i llc e r t a in ly k n o w w h a t p r o f it a b le m a t e r i a l f o r th e B r it is h o rA m e r ic a n p r e s s a s t o ry a b o u t s u c h a s c h oo l w o u l d m a k e . No s u c h

p ie c e o f n e w s e v e r a p p e a r e d f o r t h e s im p l e r e a s o n t h a t n o s u c h

s c h o ol h a s e v e r e x is t e d in B u lk e s . It w a s i n v e n t e d b y t h e r e a c t i o n a r y G r e e k G o v e r n m e n t f o r p o l i t i c a l d i v e r s i o n .

“ W h y do e s n o t M r . J o h n s o n q u o t e a n y o t h e r p a s s a g e fr o m t h e

t h o r o u g h l y c o n fu s e d a n d c o n t r a d ic t o r y r e p o r t a n d c o n c lu s io n s

o f t h e c o m m is s io n ’s m a j o r i t y , w h ic h , c o n f r o n t e d b y in d i s p u t a b l e

fa c t s , w a s b o u n d t o a r r iv e a t t h e f o llo w in g c o n c lu s io n :

“ ‘I n c o n n e c t io n w it h t h e p r e s e n t s i tu a t i o n in Gr e e c e t h e c o m

m is s io n h a s b e e n p r e s e n te d w it h a c o n s id e r a b l e n u m b e r o f p r o o fs

in f a v o u r o f t h e a s s e r t io n t h a t th e r e s p o n s ib ilit y fo r t h is s i t u a t i o n

r e s t s w it h t h e G r e e k in t e r n a l r e g im e . . .’ T h e s e p r o o f s a m o u n t e dt o s a y in g t h a t t h e p o l it ic a l o p p o s it io n g r o u p s in Gr e e c e a r e b e in gp e r s e c u te d b y t he G r e e k g e n d a r m e r ie a n d R ig h t - W in g b a n d s

a n d t h a t t h e c i v il r ig h t s o f t h e M a c e d o n ia n a n d C h a m m i n o r it ie sa r e b e in g r e s t r ic t e d . P r o o fs h a v e a ls o b e e n p r e s e n t e d i n d ic a t in gt h a t o p p o s it io n e le m e n t s a r e b e in g p e r s e c u t e d in v io l a t i o n o f t h eV a r k iz a A g r e e m e n t o f F e b r u a r y 12, 1945. T h e y s a y t h a t th e

p e r s e c u t io n o f o p p o s it io n g r o u ps h a s a s s u m e d t h e f o r m o f w h o l e s a le a r re s t s , im p r is o n m e n t o r d e p o r t a t io n s , b e a t in g s a n d o t h e r

a t roc it ie s ' , a s w e ll a s ' t he b u r n i ng do w n o f home s a s a pu n i t ive

m e a s u r e . T h e s e p r o o fs a ls o t e s t ify t h a t p e r s e c u tio n s w e r e c a r r ie d

o u t b y c e r t a in m e m b e r s o f t h e G r e e k g e n d a r m e r ie a n d o f fic ia l

R ig h t - w i n g b a n d s a n d i n v o lv e d n u m e r o u s p o lit ic a l g r o u p s , p a r t ic u l a r ly t h e E . A .M . c o a lit io n p a r t ie s . T h e c o m m is s io n h a s a ls o

b e e n p r e s e n t e d w it h s u ffic ie n t p r o o fs f o r t h e c o n c lu s i o n t h a t

im m e d i a t e l y a f t e r t h e lib e r a t io n o f Gr e e c e , a s m a l l Sla v - s p e a k in gm i n o r i ty , a s w e ll as t h e C h a m m in o r i t y in G r e e k M a c e d o n i a a n d

E p ir u s , b e c a m e t h e v ic t im s o f m u r d e r o u s e x c e ss e s .” *M a n u ils k y e m p h a s is e d t h a t b y t h e t e r m “ m u r d e r o u s e x c e ss e s ”

t h e c o m m is s io n h a d g iv e n a m ild c h a r a c t e r is a t io n o f t h e w h o le

s a le m a s s a c r e s o f t h e p o p u l a t io n s o f e n t ir e v illa g e s in G r e e k

* R e t r a n s l a t e d f r o m t h e R u s s i a n .

19



M a c e d o n i a a n d E p ir u s b y t h e b a n d s o f Ze r v a s , o n e o f t h e p illa r so f t h e p r e s e n t- d a y r e g im e in Gr e e c e .

M r . J o h n s o n ’s s e c o n d t h e s is , in w h i c h h e w e n t e v e n f u r t h e rt h a n t h e c o n c lu s io n s o f th e c o m m i s s i o n ’s m a jo r it y , s a i d t h a t

“ th e Yu g o s la v a n d B u lg a r i a n G o v e r n m e n t s , b y m e a n s o f s p e e c h e s o f r e s p o n s i b le o ffic ia ls a n d b y p r e s s a r t ic le s , h a v e e n c o u r ag e d t h e s e p a r a t is t m o v e m e n t a m o n g t h e M a c e d o n i a nS la v s in G re e c e . ” ™

M a n u ils k y a s k e d : “ B u t w h y t h e n do es n o t M r . J o h n s o n q u o te

a n o t h e r p h r a s e f r o m t h is c o n c lu s io n fo r t h e s a ke o f im p a r t i a l it yt o w a r d s t h e c o n c lu s io n a r r iv e d a t b y t he . c o m m is s io n ’s m a j o r it y ?

T h is c o n c lu s io n s a i d t h a t ‘t h e c o m mi s s io n ’s a t t e n t i o ii h a s b e e nc a l le d to t h e f a c t , a n d a n u n d i s p u t e d o ne , t h a t m o r e t h a n 2 0,000Gr e e k c it ize n s h a d fle d to Y ug o s la v ia . . . . a ft e r t he V a r k iz a

A g r e e m e n t a n d a p p r o x im a t e ly 5,000 . . . . t o B u lg a r ia , w h ile inb o t h c a s e s t h e ma j o r i t y o f t h e r e fu g e e s w e re c i t i z e n s o f S l a v o -M a c e d o n i a n d e s c e n t .

“ ‘P r o o fs h a v e a ls o b e e n p r e s e n t e d t o c o n f ir m t h e a c c u s a t io nt h a t Gr e e c e h a d s a n c t io n e d t h e p e r s e c u t io n o f Sla vo - Ma c e -

d o n i a n m in o r it ie s . F u r t h e r m o r e , t h e c o m m i s s io n h a d h e a r d t e s t i

m o n ie s t o t h e e ffe c t t h a t S l a v d i a le c t s p o k e n b y t h e S la vo-M a c e d o n ia n s , n u m b e r i n g s o m e 8 5,0 00 , is n o t t a u g h t in t h e s c h o o ls

a n d t h a t t h e u s e of t h is d ia le c t b y G r e e k c it iz e n s is p r o h ib i t e d inc e r t a i n c as e s a n d i n c e r t a i n d i s t r ic t s . T h e c o m m is s io n is o f

o p in io n t h a t s u c h a r e g im e w o u l d b r i n g a b o u t d is o r d e r s a n dd i s c o n t e n t a m o n g t h e S l a v m i n o r i t i e s i n G r e e k M a c e d o n i a a n dw o u ld c re a t e a fa v o u r a b le a t m o s p h e r e fo r s e p a r a t is t m o v e

m e n t s . ’“ T h is t r u t h is a p p a r e n t ly n o t t o M r . Jo h n s o n ’s lik i n g , ” M a n u il-

s k y s a id , “ b u t it is i mp o s s ib le t o b y - p a ss i t b e c a u s e i t s h e d s lig h to n t h e a g g r e s s iv e in t e r n a l p o lic y o f t h e r e a c t i o n a r y G r e e k

G o v e r n m e n t a n d t h is p o lic y , if n o t a r r e s t e d , w o u l d in e v i t a b ly

g r o w i n t o e x t e r n a l a g g r e s s i o n . ”

A n a ly s in g t h e r e fe r e n c e s m a d e t o t h e w i tn e s s e s ’ t e s t im o n ie s ,

b y t ho s e w h o s u p p o r t e d t h e A m e r i c a n d e le g a t io n ’s a t t it u d e , t h eU k r a in i a n d e l e g a t e w a s a b l e t o p r o v e t h a t th e s e “ w it ne s s e s ”

w h o s e a s s e r t i o n s w e r e u t i l i s e d b y t h e A m e r i c a n d e l e g a t i o n a st h e b a s is f o r it s c h a r g e s , w e r e p o l it ic a lly , m o r a l ly a n d l e g a l lyv o id . S o m e o f t h e m w e r e w a r c r i m i n a ls , as f o r in s t a n c e t h e

fo r m e r B u l g a r ia n C o lo n e l G o lo g a n o v , w h o h a d b e e n c h a ir m a n o f a c ou r t m a r t ia l a t P le v n a u n d e r th e G e r m a n s a n d w h o h a d b e e ns e n d i n g B u l g a r i a n p a t r io t s t o t h e g a llo w s ; o t h e r s w e r e o r d i n a r yc r im i n a ls , a s fo r i n s t a n c e C h r is t o s V la c h o s , w h o s e in t e r r o g a t io nb y t h e c o m m is s io n w a s p e r s is t e n t ly d e m a n d e d b y t h e G r e e k G o v e r n m e n t ’s s p o k e s m e n o n F e b r u a r y 25, 1947. T h ey , d i d n o th a v e t h e c h a n c e t o in t e r r o g a t e t h is w it ne s s b e c a us e o n M a r c h 22

h e , as s is t e d b y t w o o t h e r “ w it ne s s e s ” n o m in a t e d b y t h e G r e e k G o v e r n m e n t , a s s a s s in a te d t h e f o r m e r Min is t e r Ze v g o s in a



a d s t o le n 3 ,5 00 d o lla r s in T ir a n a ( A l b a n i a ) a n d w h o , o n r e a c h

n g G r e e c e , h a d c h a n g e d h is p r o fe s s i o n o f t h i e f fo r t h e m o r e

r o f it a b l e o n e o f f a ls e w it n e s s . A s r e g a r d s t h e t h ir d w it n e s s ,a lt a d o r o s , th e G r e e k p re s s h a s c a r r ie d , a s t a t e m e n t , s ig n e d b y

61 p e r s o n s , w h i c h d e s c r ib e d h im a s a G r e e k V a n d e r L u b b e .

“ S u c h w it n e s s e s le f t G r e a t B r i t a i n ’s r e p r e s e n t a t iv e , M r .M c N e il, u n a b a s h e d , ” M a n u ils k y r e m a r k e d . “H e u r g e d us to

u s t i n t h e c o n c l u s i o n o f t h e f a u l t l e s s m a j o r i t y o f t h e c o m m i s

o n a n d n o t in t h o s e d u b i o u s w it n e s s e s . B u t t h e n , t h is c o n c lu i o n i s b a s e d p r e c i s e l y o n t h e i r t e s t i m o n i e s a n d t h e r e f o r e M r .

M c N e il’s a t t e m p t t o e v a de t h e h e a v y b u r d e n o f th e s e t e s t im o n ie s

e h i n d t h e s h ie ld o f p r e s t ig e o f t h e c o m m i s s i o n ’s m a j o r it y w i ll b ef n o a v a il. Yo u c a n n o t b u i ld a d u r a b le h o u s e o n a r o t t e n

o u n d a t i o n , e v e n if it w e r e b u i l d b y s u c h fa u l t le s s b e in g s a s t h eG r e e k g o d de s s T h e m i s h e r s e lf.”

M a n u i ls k y f u r t h e r m e n t io n e d a t h ir d c a t e g o r y o f wit ne s s e s

b o u t w h o m o ne h a s t h e m o s t p a i n f u l im p r e s s io n s — t h e m e no n d e m n e d t o d e a t h b y t h e G re e k a u t h o r it ie s a n d t h e n g r a n t e d

h e p r iv ile g e o f r e m a in i n g a l iv e a n d o f t e s t ify in g a g a in s t Yu g o

la v ia , B u l g a r ia a n d A l b a n i a .

“ T h e r e c a n be d iffe r e n t o p in io n s r e g a r d in g t h e t r e a t m e n t o f

r is o n e r s a n d r e g a r d in g t h e d ig n it y o f h u m a n b e i n g s ,” s a id

M a n u ils k y , “ b u t it w ill b e h a r d t o a g r e e w it h M r . J o h n s o n ’s

s s e r t io n t h a t th e a p p e a r a n c e o f s u c h w it ne s s e s b e fo r e t h ee c u r it y C o u n c il’s c o m m is s io n s e r v e s a s e v i d e n c e o f d e m o c r a c y

n Gr e e c e . It r a t h e r t e s t ifie s t o c e r t a i n m e t h o d s i n t h e r e c r u it

m e n t o f w it n e s s e s , w h ic h s h o u ld be c o m e t h e s u b je c t o f in v e s t i g a

o n , n o t b y t h e S e c u r i t y C o u n c il’s c o m m is s io n b u t b y le g a l b o d ie si t h p o w e r t o in f lic t le g a l p u n is h m e n t .

M a n u ils k y w e n t o n t o d e m o n s t r a t e h o w d o u b t f u l, t oo , w a s

M r . J o h n s o n ’s t h i r d t h e s is , t h a t t h e U n i t e d S t a te s w a s s u p p o r t n g t h e le g it im a t e G o v e r n m e n t o f Gr e e c e .

“I t is s u r p r is i n g t o he a r s u c h a n a r g u m e n t f r o m t h e r e p r e s e n t a v e o f a c o u n t r y w h i c h ha s f o u g h t it s o w n w a r o f n a t io n a lb e r a t i o n a g a in s t f o r e ig n i n t e r v e n t io n w h i c h h a d s i m i la r

m o t i v e s , ” h e s a id .

“ In d e e d , w h a t s o r t o f a ‘le g i t im a t e ’ G o v e r n m e n t is t h is

G o v e r n m e n t w h i c h is o b l ig e d , in o r d e r t o r e m a in i n p o w e r , t o r e ly

n fo r e ig n b a y o n e t s t o v io l a t e t h e G r e e k C o n s t it u t io n , t o f a ls if yle c t io n s a n d r e s o r t t o in t e r n a t i o n a l f r a u d ? W h a t s o r t o i a

e g i t im a t e ’ G o v e r n m e n t is ' t h is G o v e r n m e n t w h i c h is o b l ig e d t ot ilis e b a n d s i n t h e s t r u g g l e a g a in s t it s o w n p e o p le ? O n e c a n

o t r e g a r d as le g i tim a t e a G o v e r n m e n t t h a t h a s p la c e d it s c o u n t r y

o m p le t e ly a t t h e d is p o s a l o f fo r e ig n e r s , a G o v e r n m e n t w h i c h iso t r e c o g n is e d b y t h e m a j o r i t y o f Gr e e k p a r t ie s a n d b y le a d in g

Gr e e k s a s , f o r in s t a n c e , G e n e r a l A th e n e u s , fo r m e r c o m m a n d e rf t h e G r e e k A r m y , a G o v e r n m e n t w h o m it s o w n p e o p le is f ig h t

n g a r m s in h a n d .”

R e f e r r i n g to M r . M c N e il’s a s s e r t io n t h a t t h e G r e e k G o v e r n

21



m e n t w a s l e g i tim a t e s in c e t h e A m e r i c a n a n d B r it is h ob s e r v e r s

w h o h a d a t t e n d e d th e r e f e r e n d u m o f S e p t e m b e r 1, 1946, h a dr e c o g n i s e d t h e r e f e r e n d u m a s c o r r e c t , M a n u i l s k y s a i d :

“ W h a t s o r t o f le g it im a t e G o v e r n m e n t is on e w h i c h ne e d s a

fo r e ig n p a s s p o r t to p r o v e it s le g i t im a t e n a t u r e ? T h e A m e r i c a n

a n d B r it is h o b s e r ve r s w e r e n o t im p a r t i a l w it ne s s e s . T h e y r e p r e s e n t e d G o v e r n m e n t s w h i c h h a d a n in t e r e s t i n t he s a m e o u tc o m e

o f t h e r e f e r e n d u m a s w a s d e s ir e d b y M r . T s a ld a r is . N e it h e r t h eS e c u r it y C o u n c i l n o r t h e G e n e r a l A s s e m b ly a u t h o r is e d t h e m t oa c t a s o bs e r v e r s . T h e U . S . S .R . r e fu s e d t o s e n d it s r e p r e s e n t a t iv e s .W h e n a d o p t in g t h a t d e c is io n , t h e U . S .S . R. r e lie d o n t h e c o n v ic

t i o n t h a t t h e p r e s e n c e o f o b s e r v e r s i n G r e e c e w a s i n c o m p a t i b l ew i t h h e r n a t i o n a l s o v e r e i g n t y . ”

R e f e r r i n g t o T s a ld a r is ’ s t a t e m e n t a lle g i n g t h a t 25 0,00 0 p e a s a n t sh a v e f l e d t h e t o w n s f r o m t h e t e r r o r o f t h e D e m o c r a t i c A r m y -

u n d e r M a r k o s , M a n u ils k y s a i d t h a t t his - m y t h ic a l fig u r e b e lo n g e dt o t ho s e u n s c r u p u lo u s t e s t im o n ie s w h ic h h a d e m b a r r a s s e d e v e n

Mr . McNei l .

“N e v e r t h e le s s , M r . Mc N e il b e lie v e d T s a l d a r is w it h o u t a s k in g

f o r a n y p r o o f s , ” M a n u ils k y w e n t o n, “ a l t h o u g h 25 0,0 00 m e n a r e

n o t a c a r d w h i c h c a n i n c o n s p ic u o u s l y b e p u l le d o u t o f t h e p a c k

a t a n o p p o r t u n e m o m e n t . T h e r e a r e s c or es o f fo r e ig n c o r r e s p o n

d e n t s in Gr e e c e a n d t h e y w o u l d h a v e r e p o r t e d s u c h a f a c t a lo n gt im e a go , w it h o u t w a i t in g f o r T s a l d a r is t o m a k e a s co op on s uc ha s e n s a t i o n . ”

M a n u i ls k y p o in t e d o u t t h a t , a s c o u ld be s e e n fr o m t h e c o m m i s s io n ’s d a t a , 2 9,000 r e fu g e e s h a d f lo c k e d t o A t h e n s a n d t h eP i r a e u s , b u t t h e y h a d fle d n o t f r o m t h e g u e r illa s b u t fr o m t h e

t e r r o r o f R ig h t i s t b a n d s , a n d t h e r e s p o n s ib ilit y fo r t h o s e a c t io n sr e s t e d w i t h T s a l d a r i s .

“N e it h e r w a s t h e r e a n y t r u t h ά η t h e s e c on d as s e r t io n of t he

G r e e k r e p r e s e n t a t iv e , t o th e e ffe c t t h a t t h e a lle g e d t e r r o r o f t h e

G r e e k g u e r illa s s t o od in t h e w a y o f a h a m n e s t y . T h e c r u x o f t h e

m a t t e r w a s t h a t t he m e n w h o h a d v io la t e d t he V a r k iz a Ag r e e m e n t a n d h a d d is t r ib u t e d a m o n g t h e X- it e b a n d s th e a r m s s u r

r e n d e r e d b y E L AS t r o o ps in o r d e r t o c r u s h th e G r e e k D e m o c r a t s , d i d n o t e n jo y t h e t r u s t o f t h e p e o p le . ”

T h e U k r a i n ia n d e le g a t e r e c a lle d t h e s t a t e m e n t , m a d e o n S e p t e m b e r 12 b y B in o p o u lo s , a m e m b e r o f t h e Gr e e k P a r lia m e n t

( P o p u lis t fr o m F io r i n a )^ w h o h a d s a id : “T h e a m n e s t y c a n n o t

b r in g a b o u t a n y p o s it iv e r e s u lt s s in i e G r e e k o ffic e r s in M a c e do nia , fo r s a k e t h e ir d u t y a n d s p a r e n e it h e r t h e l iv e s n o r t h e

h o n o u r n o r t h e p r o p e r t y o f Gr e e k c it iz e n s . E n t e r i n g in t o v il

la g e s t h e y b u r n t h e m d o w n . T h is h a p p e n e d in K a l o g e r ik a , A g io s ,G e r m a n o s a n d A m y n t h a i o n d is t r ic t s . T h e w h o l e n e ig h b o u r h o o d

o f F i o r in a w a s b u r n e d o u t .”M a n u ils k y / t h e n w e n t o n: “B in o p o u lo s w a s i n t e r r u p t e d b y a n

o t h e r m e m b e r o f P a r lia m e n t w h o s h o ut e d : ‘T h is is n o t im e t os p e a k o f s u c h t h i n g s . ’ B u t B in o p o u lo s c o n t i n u e d : ‘I c a n n o t h e lp



p e a k in g a b o u t t h e s e t h in g s . W e h a v e o f f ic e rs in t h e A r m y w ho

e r v e d th e G e r m a n s . G ir l s a r e b e i n g r a p e d a t p o lic e s t a t io n s . I

a v e c o m p la in e d t o t h e a u t h o r it ie s b u t t h e y h a v e f a ile d to t a k e

a n y m e a s u r e s : ’“ I n o t h e r w o r d s , ” M a n u i l s k y s a i d , “ t h e P o p u l i s t B i n o p o u l o s

w a s r e f u t in g i n th e G r e e k P a r l ia m e n t t h e in v e n t io n s w h i c h th e

P o p u l is t T s a l d a r is o ffe r e d t o t h e U n i t e d N a t i o n s O r g a n is a t io n .B u t l e t us r e t u r n t o M r . J o h n s o n . ”

T h e U k r a in i a n d e le g a t e p o i n t e d o u t t h a t “ t h e s a d d e s t im p r e s io n w a s m a d e b y t h a t s e c t io n o f t h e A m e r i c a n d e le g a t io n ’s

d e c la r a t i o n in w h i c h t he U n it e d S t a t e s ’ a t t it u d e t o w a r d s t h e

q u e s t io n u n d e r , c o n s id e r a t io n w a s e x p la in e d b y t h e d e s ir e t or e s e r v e p e a c e a n d s e c u r it y .” M a n u i ls k y r e c a lle d t h a t i n t e r a t io n a l in t r ig u e s h a d i n t h e p a s t m o r e t h a n o n ce b e e n c o n

e a le d u n d e r th e v e il of c o n c e r n f o r pe a c e a n d s e c u r it y . T h is

o r t o f t a lk h a d b e e n u s e d t o d i s g u is e a n t i- S o v ie t b lo c s i n t h eL e a g u e o f N a t io n s . It w a s b e h i n d t h e s m o k e s c r e e n o f lo v e o f

e a c e t h a t L o r d R u n c i m a n ’ s m i s s i o n o f 1 9 3 8 h a d d i s m e m b e r e dC ze c h o s lo v a k ia , t h u s f a c i lit a t i n g h e r s u b s e q u e n t in v a s i o n b y t h e

G e r m a n F a s c i s t s .

W e r e t h e U .S . G o v e r n m e n t r e a lly g u id e d b y t h e c o n s id e r a t io n sx p o u n d e d b y M r . Jo h n s o n , it s h o u ld n e v e r h a v e b o ls t e r e d u ph e r e a c t io n a r y G r e e k G o v e r n m e n t ’s a g g r e s s iv e in t e n t io n s b u t

h o u ld h a v e d o n e e v e r y t h in g n e c e s s a r y to fa c i lit a t e t h e r e s t o r a io n o f n o r m a l r e l a t io n s b e t w e e n G r e e c e a n d h e r n o r t h e r n

e i g h b o u r s .M a n u i ls k y e m p h a s is e d t h a t “ t he B a lk a n c o m m is s io n e n v is a g e d

y t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s w a s m e a n t t o s e r v e a s a s c r e e n f o r i n t e r

e n t io n in in t e r n a l G r e e k a f fa ir s a n d c o n s t i tu t e d an a t t e m p t t ox t e n d t h i s i n t e r v e n t i o n t o o t h e r B a l k a n c o u n t r i e s . T h e y w o u l d

w a n t t o m a k e u s e o f t h e U n i t e d N a t io n s ’ p r e s t ig e fo r t h e n e e d sf Am e r ic a n e x p a n s io n in t h e M e d it e r r a n e a n a r e a . T h e U k r a i n

a n d e l e g a t io n c a n n o t e n do r s e c l a im s o f t h is s o r t b e c a u s e t h e yio la t e t h e c a r d i n a l p r in c i p le o f th e U N O C h a r t e r — t h e p r in

ip le o f e q u a l r ig h t s o f n a t io n s b ig a n d s m a ll— a n d e n d a n g e rh e i r n a t i o n a l s o v e r e i g n t y . ” ' ' .

M a n u i ls k y a n n o u n c e d t h a t t h e U k r a in i a n d e l e g a t io n s e c o nd e d

h e r e s o lu t io n p r o p o s e d b y t h e U .S . S .R . d e le g a t e .

I l lA. Y. V Y S H I N S K Y ’S S P E E C H A T T H E P O L I T I C A L

C OM M I T T E E , OC T OB E R 6, 19 47

1. T he A ng lo - A m e r ic a n Ac c us e r s D is t o r t Fa c t s

FR O M t h e v e r y o u ts e t , t h e S o v ie t d e le g a t io n o b je c t e d t o t h e

G e n e r a l A s s e m b ly ’s d is c u s s i o n o f t h e G r e e k q u e s t io n ,

n t r o d u c e d b y t h e A m e r ic a n d e l e g a t io n w i t h r e f e r e n c e t o a so-

a lle d t h r e a t f r o m A lb a n i a , B u l g a r i a a n d Y u g o s la v ia t o G r e e c e ’s

23



p o l it ic a l in d e p e n d e n c e a n d t e r r it o r i a l in t e g r i ty . F r o m t h e v e r yb e g i n n in g i t w a s c le a r t o u s t h a t in r a is in g t h is q u e s t io n t h eA m e r ic a n a n d G r e e k de le g a te s w e r e in r e a lit y p u r s u in g a im sw h i c h h a d n o t h i n g i n c o m m o n w i t h t h e t a s k o f f i c i a l l y f o r m u

la t e d i n t h e ir p r o p o s a ls . T h is h a s b e e n f u l ly b o r n e o u t b y t h ec h a r a c t e r a n d c o n t e n t b o t h o f t h e s pe e c he s o f t h e A m e r i c a nd e le g a t io n a n d o f t h e A m e r ic a n d r a f t p r op o s a ls s u b m it t e d to

t h e c o m m i t t e e .A c a r e fu l s t u d y o f t h e m a t e r i a l p r ov e s in c o n t r o v e r t ib ly t h e

u t t e r in c o n s i s t e n c y a n d g r o un d le s s n e s s o f t h e c la i m s a n d a c c u s a t io n s a g a in s t t he n o r t h e r n n e ig h b o u r s o f Gr e e c e . T h r o u g h o u tt h e d i s c u s s io n o f t h e s o - c a lle d G re e k q u e s t io n , p u b l ic o p in i o n in

a n u m b e r o f c ou nt r ie s , n o t a b ly t h e U n i t e d S ta t e s , Gr e e c e a n dB r i t a i n , h a s , d a y i n , d a y o u t , b e e n i n f l u e n c e d i n a s p i r i t h o s t i l et o A lb a n i a , B u lg a r i a a n d Yu g o s la v i a . E v e n b e fo r e t h e f o r m a t io n

o f t h e C o m m i s s i o n to in v e s t i g a t e G r e e k b o r d e r in c id e n t s , t h e

r e p r e s e n t a tiv e s o f t h e U n i t e d S t a te s a n d c o u n tr ie s s u p p o r t i n g

t h e m v o ic e d a c c u s a t io n s t h e y h a d a lr e a d y fo r m u la t e d . T h e ys p o k e a n d a c t e d a s t h o u g h e v e r y t h i n g w e r e a l r e a d y c l e a r a n da s t h o u g h in f a c t it w e r e o n l y n e c e s s a r y to p u t o n r e c o r d , i n t h e

c o m m i s s i o n ’s d o c u m e n t s , d a t a w h i c h in f a c t h a d s t ill t o be

s t u d i e d a n d c l a r i f i e d .

A l l o f t h e m — t h e r e p r e s e n t a t iv e s o f t h e U n it e d S ta t e s , G r e a tB r it a in a n d Gr e e c e — s p o ke i n t h e c o m m it t e e as m a s t e r s o f t h is

a f fa i r , a s if t h e d e c is i o n w e re a lr e a d y in t h e ir p o c k e t s . T h e y — fo rin s t a n c e M r . M c N e il— d o n o t e v e n s e e t h e n e e d to c o n s id e r f a c ts

o r , t o c i t e M r . M c N e i l , “ t o p l u n g e i n t o a f o g o f d e t a i l s . ” M r .M c N e il a d m it s t h a t s o m e o f t h e e v id e n c e p r o v e s t o b e in v a l ida t t h e v e r y fir s t a p p r o a c h ; t h a t s o m e o f t h e p e r s o n s w h o g a v et e s t im o n y w e r e c o lla b o r a t io n is t s ; t h a t m a n y o f t h e w it ne s s e sa c t e d u n d e r c o e r c i o n , t o a c e r t a i n e x t e n t . W h a t , t h e n , r e m a i n s

t o b e s a i d a b o u t t h e o t h e r w it ne s s e s , i f t h r e e c a te g o r ie s o f w i t n e s s e s d e s e r v e n o c o n f i d e n c e , w h i l e a b o u t t h e f o u r t h , w h i c h

a lle g e d ly d e s e r v e s c o n fid e n c e , M r . M c N e il p r e f e r r e d t o k e e ps ile n t . T h is s i le n c e w a s a ls o m a i n t a in e d b y o t h e r lik e - m in d e dd e le g a t e s . B u t w e c a n n o t k e e p s ile n t a b o u t t h e m , a n d I s h a l l t r y

t o d e a l w i t h t h e m i n a c o n c r e t e , p r e c i s e , a n d a s f a r a s p o s s i b l e' a n d t o t h e b e s t o f m y a b ilit y , c l e a r m a n n e r .

T h e B r i t is h r e p r e s e n t a t iv e e n d e a v o ur s t o p r o v e t h a t w h a tm a t t e r s is n o t th e s e s h o r t c o m in g s w h ic h d is c r e d it d a t a g a t h e r e d

b y t h e c o m m i s s i o n , t h a t in g e n e r a l it is n o t fa c t s a n d p r o o f t h a tm a t t e r , b u t t h a t w h a t do e s m a t t e r is t h e c o m m is s io n it s e l f, w h i c h

M r . M c N e il e x t o l le d h e r e c h ie f ly , it s e e ms , b e c a u s e i t in c lu d e d

h is f r ie n d , w h o m h e a ls o p r a i s e d t o t h e h e a v e n s . E v id e n t ly , a c c o rd i n g t o M r . M c N e i l ’ s l o g i c , t h i s g o o d c o mmi s s i o n c a n ma k eu p f o r a n y p r o o fs , e v e n p o o r on es .

T h e A m e r i c a n d e le g a t e , M r . J o h n s o n , d e v o t e d h is s p e e c h t o a ju s t if ic a t io n o f t h e b e h a v i o u r o f t h e A m e r i c a n d e le g a t io n i n th e

S e c u r i t y C o u n c i l. A s d i s t in c t f r o m h is p a r t n e r s , M r . J o h n s o n d i d ,



h o w e v e r , d w e ll o n c e r t a in b o r d e r in c id e n t s w h i c h a r e s u p p o s e d

t o p r o v e t h a t Yu g o s la v ia , B u lg a r ia a n d A lb a n i a a id e d t h e G r e e k

g u e r illa s . B u t M r . Jo h n s o n ’s d e s c r i p t io n o f t h e s e i n c id e n t s w a st o o lo os e , a n d c o n t a i ne d a n u m b e r o f m is t a k e s a n d d is t o r t io n s .

M r . Jo h n s o n g lo s s e d o v e r t h e f a c t t h a t t h e in v e s t i g a t io n o f t h e

in c i d e n t i n A n g is t r o n - L ip a w a s bn e - s id e d, a n d t h a t t h e a u x ilia r y

g r o u p h a d h e a r d o n ly G r e e k w it ne s s e s . H e fa i le d t o m e n t io n t h a t

t h e G r e e k g u e r illa s w e r e im m e d ia t e ly d is a r m e d a n d in t e r n e d a s

c o n fir m e d b y t h e B u l g a r ia n C a p t a in Z h iv k o f f, w h o s e t e s t im o n yw a s c h a lle n g e d b y n o on e , n o t e v e n M r . Jo h n s o n h i m s e lf.

A s f o r G r e e k c o n t e n t io n s a b o u t t h e r e t u r n o f t he s e g u e r illa s

t o Gr e e c e , t e s t im o n y t o t h is e ffe c t w a s g i v e n t o t h e a u x ili a r y

g r o u p b y f o u r G r e e k w it n e s s e s — A r v a n t id is . , Ja n k e s , "F o tia d is

a n d Ra h m a n id i s . I t s h o u ld b e n o t e d t h a t t h e ir a c t u a l t e s t im o n ie sa r e l a c k i n g ; i n s t e a d , t h e r e i s o n l y a b r i e f s u m m a r y . F r o m t h i s

s u m m a r y w e l e a r n t h a t t h e a b o v e m e n t io n e d w it ne s s e s w e r e

k e p t u n d e r g u a r d in a B u l g a r ia n c a m p f o r G r e e k re fu ge e s a ft e r .

t h e y h a d b e e n d is a r m e d a n d in t e r n e d , a n d th e r e is n o t h in g t oin d ic a t e t h a t t h e B u l g a r ia n a u t h o r it ie s h a d a n y h a n d i n t h is

c ro s s in g o v e r t o Gre e c e .T h e t e s t i m o n y r e g a r d i n g a r m s is n o t c o n v in c in g . T h e r e is n o t h

in g t o c o n f ir m t h a t th e s e p e o p le r e c e iv e d a r m s o n B u lg a r i a n

t e r r it o r y . E v e n t h e a u x ilia r y g r o u p h a d t o r e c o r d d iv e r g e n c ie s

a n d in e x a c t i t u d e s i n t h e t e s t im o n y o f t he s e w i tn e s s e s . F o r i n

s t a nc e , w it n e s s A r v a n t id i s s t a te s t h a t h e “ c o u ld n o t s ay. w h e t h e rit t o o k p la c e o n Gr e e k o r B u l g a r i a n t e r r i t o r y . ” W it n e s s J a n k e s

d e c l a r e d t h a t h e w a s n o t c e r t a in w h e t h e r , a r m s w e r e d is t r i b u t e d

in Gr e e c e o r B u lg a r ia . W it n e s s R a h m a n id i s s a ys t h a t a r m s w e r e

r e c e iv e d i n B u l g a r i a , w h i le w it n e s s F o t i a d is b a s e d h is c l a imt h a t a r m s c a m e fr o m B u lg a r ia o n t h e fa c t t h a t “ t h e y w e r e n e w .”S u c h c o n t r a d ic t io n s m a k e a l l t he s e t e s t im o n ie s a b s o lu t e l y w o r t h

less .O n t h e o t he r h a n d , t h e t e s t im o n y o f t h e B u lg a r i a n C a p t a i n

Z h iv k o f f m a k e s i t c le a r t h a t t h e in c i d e n t i n A n g is t r o n - L ip a w a s

p r o v o k e d b y G r e e k s w h o h a d c r os s e d in t o B u l g a r ia n t e r r i t o r y int h e c ou r s e o f a p u n it iv e o p e r a t i o n a g a i n s t t h e g u e r illa s . H e

s t a t e d , fo r in s t a nc e : . “ We o b s e r v e d t h e m o v e m e n t o f G r e e k t r o o p so n B u l g a r ia n t e r r it o r y , b u t d id n o t s h o o t s in c e w e h a d n o r i g h t

to do so .”

T h e Gre e k o ffic e r , S i r io p u lo s , a t t e m p t in g to r e fu t e Zh iv k o fE ’ss t a t e m e n t , h a s a lle g e d t h a t t h e B u l g a r ia n p a t r o l w h ic h h e m e t

o n A p r i l 18 s t a t e d t h e ' o p po s it e . T h is s t a t e m e n t o f t h e G r e e k o ffic e r , h o we v e r , o b v io u s ly c o n t r a d ic t s Z h iv k o f f ’s s t a t e me n t c it e d

b y t h e a u x ilia r y g r o u p a b ov e .

T h u s w e a r e c o n f r o nt e d w it h c o n t r a d ic t o r y e x p la n a t io n s , a n dh a v e n o m e a n s o f o v e r c o m in g o r e v e n s im p ly e x p l a in i n g t h e s e

c o n t r a d i c t i o n s .M r . Jo h n s o n h a s s p o k e n a b o u t t h e i n c id e n t in Ku k a - P a la io n -

T r i e t h ne s . B u t h e g lo s s e d o v e r t h e m a i n p o i n t, n a m e ly , t h a t

25 D



a c c o r d in g t o t h e t e s t im o n y o f a n u m b e r o l w it ne s s e s , t h e Yu g o s la v

a u t h o r it ie s d is a r m e d t h e g u e r illa s w h o c r os s e d in t o Y u g o s la v ia

fr o m Gr e e c e a n d s e n t t h e m n o t t o Gr e e c e b u t t o a r e fu g e e c a m p

in t h e in t e r i o r o f Yu g o s la v ia .

L o o k c a r e f u lly a t t h e t e s t im o n y o f th e G r e e k w it n e s s Mic -

h a i lid is , a n d y o u w ill s e e t h a t t h e g u e r illa s le f t t h e c a m p a t n i g h t

a n d w e r e o r d e r e d to ke e p s ile n t s o t h a t t h e Yu g o s la v b o r d e rg u a r d s s h o u ld n o t h e a r th e m . T h e r e a r e n o o th e r d a t a , a n d it

r e q u ir e s a n e x t r a o r d i n a r y flig h t o f im a g in a t io n t o r e a c h th e

c o n c lu s io n s d r a w n b y Me s s r s . E v a t t , Jo h n s o n , Mc N e il, T s a ld a r i sa n d S p a a k .

T h u s t h e g u e r illa s c r os s e d o v e r t o G re e c e in s e c r e cy fr o m t h eY u g o s l a v a u t h o r i t i e s . D o e s t h i s n o t p r o v e c o n c l u s i v e l y t h a t t h e

Y u g o s l a v a u t h o r i t i e s r e n d e r e d n o a s s i s t a n c e t o t h e g u e r i l l a s ?I t is n o t t o M r . J o h n s o n ’s a d v a n t a g e t o n o t ic e s u c h “ d e t a ils , ”

a n d h e do e s n o t n o tic e t h e m .

In c id e n t a l ly , t h e a u x ilia r y g r o u p in v e s t ig a t e d t h is in c i d e n tn o t “ o n t h e s p o t ” b u t w it h in t e n k ilo m e t r e s o f t h e Y u g o s la v

b o r d e r , s in c e t h e e n t ir e a r e a w a s o c c u p ie d b y g u e r illa s . Be s id e s ,

is it n o t a fa c t t h a t t h e a u x ilia r y g r o u p s t a r t e d in v e s t ig a t in g t h is

in c i d e n t o n ly w h e n t h e G r e e k a u t h o r it ie s h a d c a r r ie d o u t in t h is

lo c a lit y t h e ir p u n i t iv e o p e r a t io n s a g a in s t t h e g u e r illa s , h a v in gin t h is w a y p r e p a r e d a c o n v e n ie n t s e t t in g f o r t h e s o - c a lle d in

v e s t i g a t i o n ?

T h e r e c a n b e n o d o u b t a s t o t h e c h a r a c t e r o f s u c h a n in v e s t i

g a t io n c a r r ie d o u t “ o n t h e s p o t” a f te r s u c h p r e lim in a r y p r e v e n

t iv e p o lic e a n d g e n d a r m e r ie m e a s u r e s .I t w ill b e a p p r o p r i a t e t o m e n t io n h e r e M . S p a a k ’s s t a t e m e n t

e x p r e s s in g h is s a t is f a c t io n w it h t h e w o r k o f t h e a u x ilia r y g r o u p .

B u t is it n o t a f a c t t h a t th e a b o v e a c t io n s o f t h e a u x ilia r y g r o u p ,

w h i c h in t e r v e n e d in t h e s t r u g g le o n t h e s id e o f t h e G r e e k

G o v e r n m e n t , w h ic h a c t u a lly h e lp e d t h e Gr e e k p u n it iv e fo rc e s ,

t e s t ify t h a t th e g r o u p c o m m it te d a gr os s m is d e m e a n o u r a n d

fo r g o t it s d u t y a s a n im p a r t i a l a n d o b je c t iv e b o d y ? T h e S o v ie t

d e le g a t io n s a y s “ y e s ” t o t h is q u e s t io n . Ye s , th e a u x ilia r y g r o u p

v io la t e d it s d u t y a s a n im p a r t i a l a g e n c y o f U N O .

T h e U n it e d S t a te s r e p r e s e n t a tiv e h a s p o in t e d o u t t h a t d u r i n ga n i n c id e n t o n th e A lb a n i a n f r o n t ie r in t h e K o n i ts a a r e a o n

J u l y 10 t o 12, 19 47, e i g h t o r n i n e g u e r i lla b a t t a l io n s n u m b e r i n g1,000 m e n w e r e a lle g e d t o h a v e c r o s s e d in t o Gr e e c e f r o m A l b a n i a .

B u t M r . Jo h n s o n is a w a r e t h a t t h e r e e x is t th r e e c o n f lic t in g s t a te

m e n t s r e la t i n g to t h is . B e s id e s , it t r a n s p i r e s t h a t th e s e c o n t r a

d i c t o r y w i t n e s s e s o b s e r v e d t h e c r o s s i n g o f t h e b o r d e r b y t h e

g u e r illa s f r o m a d is t a n c e o f fiv e o r t e n k ilo m e t r e s f r o m t h e

fr o n t ie r . N o t h in g b u t d e s p a ir c o u ld d r iv e o n e to b e lie v e s u c h

w it ne s s e s . I t is w o r t h m e n t io n in g t h a t t h e a u x ilia r y g r o u p

s e le c t e d t h is in c i d e n t f o r a n e x t r a o r d i n a r y in v e s t ig a t io n i n c o nn e c t io n w it h t h e s t a t e m e n t s o f t h e G r e e k Go v e r n m e n t a b o u t a n

im a g in a r y “ in v a s io n ” o f Gr e e c e b y a n “ in t e r n a t i o n a l b r ig a d e .”

26



W e k n o w t h a t t e r r o r m a g n ifie s t h i n g s . B u t t e n G r e e k w it ne s s e s ,in t e r r o g a t e d o n t h e s p ot, c o u ld s a y n o t h i n g a b o u t a n “ in v a s io n ”

b y a n “ in t e r n a t i o n a l b r i g a d e . ” T h e i r w h o le t e s t i m o n y b o ile dd o w n t o t h e s t a t e m e n t t h a t s o m e o f t h e g u e r illa s s p o ke S la v a n d

A l b a n i a n l a n g u a g e s .T i ie a u x ilia r y g r o u p m e r e ly r e c o r d e d t h e c o n t r a d ic t io n s w it h

o u t t a k in g t h e t r o u b le t o- s e p a ra te t r u t h f r o m l ie s .T h e c o n c lu s io n r e a c h e d b y M r . J o h n s o n a n d b y M . S p a a k , w h ow i t h s u p r e m e d e v o t i o n d e f e n d e d h i s A m e r i c a n c o l l e a g u e , i s

s i m p le : t h e a u x ilia r y g r o u p a n d c o m m i s s i o n c o n fir m e d th e c o n

c lu s io n s r e a c h e d p r e v io u s l y b y a m a jo r it y in t h e S e c u r it y

C o u n c i l . I f o n e i s t o a s s e s s t h i s f a c t p r o p e r l y , i t m e a n s t h a t i nt h is c as e t h e c a r t w a s p u t b e fo r e t h e h o r s e . I t is n o t t he S e c u r it y

C o u n c il w h i c h h a s d r a w n t h e c o n c lu s io n o n t h e b a s is o f fa c t sg a t h e r e d b y t h e c o m m is s io n , b u t t h e c o m m is s io n w h i c h h a s c o n

f ir m e d c o n c lu s io n s d r a w n b y a m a j o r it y i n t h e S e c u r i ty C o u n

c il b e f o r e a n y fa c t s w e r e g a t h e r e d . A r e m a r k a b l e a dm is s io n,-

i n d e e d !N o w o n d e r t h a t f o r Me s s r s . J o h n s o n , M c N e i l, T s a l d a r is a n d

S p a a k th is w h o l e a f fa i r s e e m s p e r f e c t ly c le a r : n o w o n d e r t h a t ,

f o r th e m , t h e d o c u m e n t s g a t h e r e d b y t h e c o m m i s s i o n a r e m o r et h a n s u ffic ie n t fo r d is c u s s io n b y t h e G e n e r a l A s s e m b l y a n d —

t o s p e a k f r a n k l y — t o c o n f i r m t h e d e c i s i o n w h i c h a m a j o r i t y i n

t h e S e c u r it y C o u n c il b e lie v e d in d i s p u t a b le in a d v a nc e .

N o w w e a r e o f fe r e d a n e v e n s im p le r r e c i pe . F o r in s t a n c e , D r .

E v a t t , d o u b t in g w h e t h e r a n y o n e of t ho s e p r e s e n t is c a p a b l e o f

m a k in g h e a d o r t a il of t h is m a s s o f m a t e r i a l, b o t h u s e fu l a n d

u s e le s s , p r o p os e d t h a t y o u a p p r o v e t h is r e p o r t w i t h y o u r e y es

s h u t . I n d e e d , a m a j o r i t y i n t h e c o m m i s s i o n a p p r o v e d t h e m a t e r ia l s o f t h e s u b- c o m m is s io n . A m a j o r it y in t h e S e c u r i ty C o u n c ila p p r o v e d t h e c o m m i s s i o n ’ s m a t e r i a l s — n o w i t i s y o u r t u r n t o

a p p r o v e b l i n d ly t h e S e c u r i t y C o u n c i l’s d e c is i on , a n d t h e n it r e m a i n s f o r th e G e n e r a l A s s e m b l y t o a p p r o v e t h e c o m m it t e e ’s

fin d in g s . A r e m a r k a b l e ' t h o u g h n o t v e r y r e a s o n a b le m e t h o d ,w h i c h r e l ie v e s o n e o f t h e n e c e s s it y t o t h i n k a b o u t t h e f a c t s , to

s t u d y a n d a n a ly s e , t h e m a t e r ia ls , t o r e a c h , im p a r t i a l ly , in d e p e n

den t ly , by one’s own e f fo r t s , some log ica l conc lus ion . No log ic i s

n e e d e d .h e r e . W h a t is n e e d e d is o n l y a m a j o r i t y v o t e a c c o r d i n gto Dr . Eva t t · ’s rec ipe .

A l l t he s e a c c us e r s a v o id m e n t io n i n g f a c t s , f e a r i n g le s t t h e r o t

t e n f a b r ic o f s o - c alle d e v id e n c e g a t h e r e d a g a in s t th e t h r e e

G o v e r n m e n t s o f S ta t e s n e ig h b o u r in g o n Gr e e c e i n t h e n o r t ht u r n s t o d u s t a s s o o n as t h e y t o u c h i t. In p a r t ic u l a r , t h is w a s t h e

im p r e s s i o n g iv e n b y M r . T s a ld a r is ’ s p e e c h , w h i c h c a n o n ly b e

d e s c r i b e d a s a g r a t e f u l e u l o g y “ t o t h e p e o p l e w h o s e g e n e r o s i t y

in s p ir e d P r e s i d e n t T r u m a n ’s p r o g r a m m e o f a i d t o Gr e e c e . ” T o

t h is e u lo g y o f A m e r i c a n g e n e r o s it y , M r . T s a ld a r i s a d d e d s e v e r a lt i r a d e s a g a i n s t “ t h e d i c t a t o r s h i p o f a m i n o r i t y ” a n d a g a i n s t

n o r t h e r n n e ig h b o u r s a lle g e d t o b e a t t a c k in g G re e c e , w h e r e p r i n

27



c ip le s o f r e a l d e m o c r a c y s u p p o s e d ly f lo u r is h . I t w o u l d b e a w a s t e

o f t i me t o a r g u e w i t h M r . T s a l d a r i s o n t h i s s u b j e c t . S u f f i c e i t t o

r e c a ll t h e c l a m a n t fa c t t h a t o p p r e s s io n a n d w h it e t e r r o r a r e

r e ig n in g i n Gr e e c e , w h e r e n o t r a c e o f d e m o c r a c y h a s r e m a i n e d .

2. G r a d e D is t o r t io n s in t h e W o r k o f t h e i n v e s t ig a t in g

C o m m i s s i o nT h e G r e e k r e p r e s e n t a tiv e w o u n d u p h is s p e e ch w it h a r e p e t i

t io n o f g e n e r a l a c c u s a t io n s a g a in s t A lb a n ia , B u lg a r i a a n d Yu g o

s l a v ia , to t h e e ffe c t t h a t t h e y a r e s e e k in g t o d e s t r o y G r e e c e ’s

p o lit ic a l in d e p e n d e n c e a n d t e r r i t o r ia l in t e g r it y .

T h e t h r e e c h ie f p r o s e c u t or s — t h e r e p r e s e n t a tiv e s o f t h e U n it e d

S ta t e s , G r e a t B r it a in a n d G re e c e — a lo n g w it h th e B e lg ia n r e p r e

s e n t a t iv e w h o t o o k t h e ir s id e , a s w e ll a s D r . E v a t t w h o jo in e d

t h e m t o- d ay (o f c ou rs e , w e n e v e r d o u b t e d t h a t h e w o u ld d o s o ) ,

s e e k t o g iv e t h e im p r e s s io n t h a t t h e f in d in g s o f t h e m a jo r it y o f

t h e i n v e s t i g a t i n g c o m m i s s i o n h a v e f o u n d a t i o n , a r e s u p p o r t e d b yfa c t s , a n d t h a t it o n ly r e m a in s f o r t h e c o m m it te e t o a p p r o v e t h e

c o m m is s io n ’s p r o p o s a ls a n d r e f e r t h e m t o t h e G e n e r a l A s s e m b l y

fo r a p p r o v a l. B u t th e s e a c cu s e rs u n d e r s t a n d a n d k n o w v e r y w e ll

t h a t t h e c o m m is s io n a n d t h e a u x ilia r y- g r o u p h a v e n o f a c t s w h a t

e v e r in t h e r e a l m e a n in g o f t h e w o r d , th a t t h e d a t a c o lle c t e d b y

t h e c o m m is s io n h a s b e e n g a t h e r e d a t r a n d o m “ lik e f a g g ot s in a

w o o d , ” a s t h e s a y i n g g oe s , a n d t h a t c o n s e q u e n t ly th e p r o p o s a ls

b a s e d o n th e s e d a t a c a n n o t b e o f a n y v a lu e a n d a c t u a lly , h a v e

n o v a lu e . T h a t is w h y t h e a c c us e r s s o p e r s is t e n t ly s h u n d is c u s

s io n a n d a n a ly s i s . D is c u s s i o n a n d e v a lu a t io n o f t h e s e d a t a isi n d i s p e n s a b l e .

In s t u d y in g t h e c o m m i s s io n ’s m a t e r ia l s , o ne c a n n o t f a i l t o

n o t e , fir s t ly , q u i t e a fe w in s t a n c e s w h e n , c o n t r a r y t o o b v io u s

fa c t s , t h e m a jo r it y o f t h e c o m m i s s io n h as a t t e m p t e d t o im p o s e

u p o n t h e r e s t o f t h e d e le g a t e s c o n c lu s io n s a n d d e d u c t io n s w h o lly

a t v a r ia n c e w it h t he s e fa c t s . I t is n o m e r e c h a n c e t h a t th e t w o

d e l e g a t io n s w h i c h p a r t ic i p a t e d in t h e c o m m is s i o n ’s w o r k ( th eC o lo m b ia n a n d B e lg ia n ) m a d e a r e s e r v a t io n d ir e c t ly i n d ic a t in g“ t h e u n if o r m it y o f p r e s u m p t iv e e v id e n c e ” a im e d a t s u b s t a n t ia t

in g t h e c h ar ge s a d v a n c e d b y Gr e e c e a g a in s t h e r n o r t h e r nn e i g h b o u r s .

' T h is r e s e r v a t io n s h o u l d n o t b e ig n o r e d . It t e s t ifie s t o th e a b n o r m a l s i t u a t i o n w h i c h h a s a r i s e n i n t h e c o m m i s s i o n ’ s w o r k . I s

it n o t c le a r t h a t t h e r e f e r e n c e t o “ th e u n if o r m it y o f p r e s u m p t iv ee v id e n c e ” c a n o n ly b e t a k e n a s in d ic a t in g t h e a r t if ic i a l n a t u r e o f

t h i s e v i d e n c e ? I n c i d e n t a l l y , I s h a l l r e c a l l t h a t i n h i s s t a t e m e n t

t o t h e c o m m it t e e M r . T s a ld a r is a d m it t e d t h a t “ o n ly s u c h e v i

d e n c e a s h a s b e e n p r e p a r e d in a d v a n c e is u n if o r m . ” T h is is p e r

fe c t ly t r u e , b u t it is ju s t t h i s k i n d o f s u s p ic io u s u n if o r m it y t h a t

d is t in g u is h e s t h e b u lk o f t h e t e s t im o n y o f t h e w it ne s s e s p r e

s e n te d b y th e G r e e k G o v e r n m e n t , T h e a b o v e r e s e r v a t io n a ls oa s s e r ts t h a t t h is t e s t im o n y w a s a i m e d a t p r o v in g t h e g u i lt o f

28



A l b a n i a , B u l g a r i a a n d Yu g o s la v i a . S u c h a c h a r a c t e r is a t io n o f t h e w i tn e s s e s ’ t e s t i m o n y is f a t a l f o r t h is t e s t im o n y , a s f a r a s it s

v a l u e a s p r o o f is c o n c e r n e d . A w it n e s s w h o s e t e s t i m o n y a im s a tp r o v in g g u i lt c a n c e r t a i n ly n o t b e r e g a r d e d as i m p a r t ia l , a n d

c a n n o t b e f u l ly t r u s t e d .

It is k n o w n t h a t t h e F r e n c h d e l e g a t io n a ls o m a d e r e s e r v a t io n s .

T h e F r e n c h r e p r e s e n t a t iv e i n t h e c o m m is s io n n o te d t h e f a u l t in e s s o f t h e v e r y m e t h o d o f w o r k a d o p t e d by- t h e c o m m i s s io n ,

w h i c h d e v ia t e d fr o m t h e p a t h o f s y s t e m a t ic a n a l y s is o f fa c t s a n dd e t a ile d e x p o s it io n o f q u e s t io n s w it h o u t f o r m u l a t in g a n y fo r m a lc o n c lu s io n s . W i t h t h i s w e c a n n o t b u t a g r e e . A s a r e s u lt o f t h is

m e t h o d ,' t h e c o m m i s s i o n ’s r e c o m m e n d a t io n s t o o k t h e f o r m o f s a n c t io n s , in a s m u c h as a m a j o r it y o f it s m e m b e r s s o u g h t n o t t oi n v e s t i g a t e , b u t t o a c c u s e .

T h e c o m m i s s io n b e n t it s e f fo r ts n o t t o in v e s t i g a t in g fa c t s t r u t h

f u l ly a n d i m p a r t i a lly , a s w a s it s d u t y , b u t t o p r o n o u n c i n g t h e

w o r d “ g u i lt y ” a n d p a s s in g a v e r d ic t n o t b a s e d e v e n o n fa c t s ;

w h i c h i t h a d n o r i g h t t o d o. I t is n o a c c id e n t t h a t t h e r e s e r v a t io no f t h e F r e n c h d e le g a t i o n . c o n t a in s t h e f o llo w in g l in e s : “ T h e

c o n d it io n s u n d e r w h i c h t h e in v e s t ig a t i o n w a s c a r r ie d o u t w e r e

p o s s ib ly n o t s u c h as w o u l d w a r r a n t o u r d r a w in g c o n c lu s io n s

b a s e d o n s o u n d le g a l p r i n c ip le s . E v e n if c e r t a i n d e le g a t io n s b e

lie v e i t p o s s ib le t o d r a w c o n c lu s io n s o n th e b a s is o f iso la t e d

f a c t s , t h i s m e t h o d i n v o l v e s c o n s i d e r a b l e r i s k . ”

■ Wha t is lik e ly t o b e t h e r e s u lt o f s u c h r is k y a c t io n s ? O n e

c a n n o t b u t a g r e e w it h t h e F r e n c h d e l e g a te i n t h e c o m m is s io n ,

w h o d e c la r e d t h a t “ s u c h o ne - s id e d c o n c lu s io n s w i ll in e v i t a b ly

b e u n f a ir t o w a r d s t h e p a r t ie s c o nc e r n e d , a n d m a y m is l e a d t h e

S e c u r i t y C o u n c il” ; t h a t “ c o n d it io n s d i d n o t f a v o u r t h e e s t a b lis h m e n t o f a b o d y f o r o b t a i n in g e v i de n c e in t h e l e g a l s e n s e of the

w o r d ” ; a n d t h a t “ if w e d r a w c o n c lu s io n s w h i c h w o u ld n o t b e

s u f f i c i e n t l y j u s t i f i e d f r o m t h e l e g a l v i e w p o i n t , w e s h a l l t h u s

c o mp l ic a t e t h e s it u a t io n , c r it i c a l a s i t is , a n d s h a l l u se l e s s ly

h u r t q u i t e n a t u r a l s e n s i t i v i t y . ”

O ne m o r e q u o t a t io n fr o m t h e F r e n c h r e s e r v a t io n : “T h e r e a l

s t a t e o f a f f a i r s e n c o u n t e r e d b y o u r i n v e s t i g a t i o n s e e m s t o o c o m

p le x ; t h e f a c t s , i n th e le g a l s e n s e o f t h is w o r d , h a v e b e e n e s t a b

lis h e d t o o in a d e q u a t e ly t o m a k e it e a s y to r e a c h a d e c is io n b a s e d

o n c le a r a n d d e f in it e o p i n io n a n d c o n t a i n in g a p r e c is e a n d im p a r t i a l d e f in i t io n o f w h a t c o n s t it u t e s t h e "g u ilt o f b o t h p a r t i e s . ”

T h u s w e m a y n o t e t h a t t he w o r k o f t h e s ix m e m b e r s o f t he

c o m m i s s io n , c a lle d th e m a j o r it y , is t o t a lly u n s a t is f a c t o r y , b o t h

a s t o th e d a t a i t h a s g a t h e r e d , a n d e s p e c i a lly a s t o th e c o n c lu s io n s

t h e c o m m i tt e e d r e w f r o m t h e s e d a t a . It o ffe r s n o p o s s i b ilit y w h a t

e v e r o f r e a c h i n g t ho s e f in a l c o n c lu s io n s w h ic h t h e A m e r i c a nd e l e g a t io n , h o w e v e r , w a s b o l d e n o u g h t o d r a w i n s u b m it t in g it s

p r o p o s a ls c o n c e r n i ng s o m e im a g in a r y t h r e a t t o G r e e c e ’s p o l it ic a lin d e p e n d e n c e a n d t e r r i t o r ia l in t e g r it y o n t h e p a r t o f A lb a n i a ,

B u l g a r i a a n d Y u g o s l a v i a

29



W h a t a r e t h e s e lf- e v id e n t c o nc lu s io n s f r o m t h e a b o ve ?

C o n c l u s io n o ne : t h e c o m m is s io n ’s m e t h o d o f w o r k fa i le d t oe n s u r e a n o b je c t iv e a p p r o a c h , a n d a s a r e s u l t it fu n c t io n e d n o ta s a n i n v e s t ig a t in g b u t a s a n a c c u s i ng b o d y .

C o n c lu s io n t w o : T h e c o n d it io n s u n d e r w h ic h t h e in v e s t ig a t i o nw a s c o n d uc t e d d id n o t w a r r a n t c o n c lu s io n s ba s e d o n “ s o u n d

le g a l p r i n c ip le s , ” as w a s n o t e d q u it e r e a s o n a b ly b y th e F r e n c h

r e p r e s e n t a t iv e . I n o t h e r w o r d s , t h e c o m m i s s io n f a ile d t o m e e t

t h e b a s i c r e q u i r e m e n t o f a n y f a i r i n v e s t i g a t i o n — n a m e l y , t h a t

fa c t s b e p r e s e n t e d p r e c i s e ly a n d fu lly , w it h o u t d is t o r t io n a n dw i t h o u t p o l i t i c a l b i a s .

C o n c l u s io n t h r e e : T h e d a t a c it e d b y t h e c o m m is s io n o ffe r n o

g r o u n d s fo r t h e c o n c lu s io n s d r a w n b y t h e s o - c alle d m a j o r it y w it h

r e g a r d t o Y u g o s la v ia , B u lg a r i a a n d A lb a n i a . B e s id e s , t h e

m a j o r it y d e lib e r a t e ly p as s e s o v e r in s ile n c e f a c ts c o n v i c t in g t h eGr e e k G o v e r n m e n t as th e p a r t y r e s p o ns ib le fo r t h e e x t e r n a l

p o lit ic a l s it u a t i o n in t h e B a lk a n s . T h e s e t h r e e c o n c lu s io n s s h o u ld

h a v e l e d t h e m a j o r it y o f t h e c o m m i s s i on t o a f o u r t h c o n c lu s io n —

n a m e ly , t h a t t h e a c c u s a t io n s p u t fo r w a r d b y t h e G r e e k G o v e r n

m e n t a n d s u p p o r t e d , w it h e n e r g y d e s e r v in g o f b e t t e r us e , b y

t h e r e p r e s e n t a t iv e s o f t h e U n it e d S t a te s , G r e a t B r i t a i n a n d

B e lg i u m , h a v e n o t b e e n c o n fir m e d , a n d a f fo r d n o b a s i s fo r p r e

s e n t in g a n y c la im s t o t h e G o v e r n m e n t s o f A l b a n ia , B u l g a r ia a n dY u g o s l a v i a . O n t h e c o n t r a r y , t h e r e a r e d a t a e n o u g h f o r a c c u s a

t io n s a g a i ns t t h e G r e e k G o v e r n m e n t . T h is is t h e c o n c lu s io nr e a c h e d b y t h e d e le g a t io n s o f t h e U . S .S .R . a n d P o l a n d .

■ 3. T h e C iv il W a r in Gr ee ce an d th e U .S . A.

T h e S o v ie t d e l e g a t io n b e lie v e s t h a t t h e b a s i c fa c t o r w h i c h

p r o d uc e d , in t h e n o r t h e r n b o r d e r d is t r ic t s o f Gr e e c e , t h e s t a t e o f t e n s i o n w h i c h i s b e i n g e x p l o i t e d b y t h e G r e e k m i l i t a r i s t s f o r

p r o v o c a t i v e a c t i o n s a g a i n s t Y u g o s l a v i a , B u l g a r i a a n d A l b a n i a , i st h e i n t e r n a l s it u a t io n in Gr e e c e , t h e a c u t e s t r u gg le b e t w e e n t h e

G r e e k p e o p le a n d t h e a n t i- d e m o c r a t ic fo r c e s r a l lie d b e h in d t h e

G r e e k G o v e r n m e n t w h i c h is s u p p o r t e d b y r e a c t i o n a r y c ir c le s inc e r t a i n fo r e ig n S ta t e s . T h e s it u a t i o n w h i c h h a s a r is e n in t h e

n o r t h e r n d is t r ic t s o f Gr e e c e is t o a c o n s id e r a b le e x t e n t th e r e

s u lt o f t h is fo r e ig n i n t e r v e n t i o n in G r e e c e ’s in t e r n a l a ffa ir s .

T h is in t e r v e n t io n is b e i n g u s e d b y t h e a n t i- d e m o c r a t ic fo r c e s o f Gr e e c e r a llie d a r o u n d e le m e n t s c o m p r o m i s e d b y c o l la b o r a t io n

w i t h t h e F a s c i s t i n v a d e r s . T h i s f a c t h a m p e r s t h e e s t a b l i s h m e n to f n o r m a l r e l a t i o n s b e t w e e n G r e e c e a n d n e i g h b o u r i n g S t a t e s .

O n e is le d t o t h is c o n c lu s io n b y n u m e r o u s fa c t s k n o w n t o t he

w h o l e w o r ld , fa c t s w h i c h c o u ld e a s ily h a v e b e e n p r e s e n t e d t o

t h e G e n e r a l A s s e m b l y b y t h e c o m m i s s i o n f o r i n v e s t i g a t i n g i n c i d e n ts , o n t h e G r e e k b o r d e r , h a d it a c t e d w i t h e le m e n t a r y o b je c

t i v i t y a n d i m p a r t i a l i t y . H a r d a s i t t r i e d , h o w e v e r , t o g l o s s o v e rt h f t d t t t h it t i t h G k b d i



c o m m is s i o n w a s u n a b le t o d o s o s in c e , d e s p it e it s b i a s e d a t t i t u d e ,

i t r a n a t e v e r y .s t e p in t o f a c ts w h i c h s p o k e f o r t h e m s e l ve s , a n d

w h i c h it w a s im p o s s ib le t o t a lly t o ig n o r e .T h e s e fa c t s w e r e s o c la m a n t t h a t t h e c o m m i s s io n , fo r in s t a n c e ,

h a d t o r e c o g nis e t h e g r o un d le s s n e s s o f G r e e k a c c u s a t io n s r e la t i n gt o n u m e r o u s b o r d e r i n c i d e n t s . T h e c o m m i s s i o n ’ s c o n c l u s i o n s o n

t h is m a t t e r s t a t e t h a t i t “ r e c e iv e d n o c o n v in c i n g p r o o f t h a t v io l a t io n s o f t h e b o r d e r , u n r e la t e d t o g u e r i lla a c t io n , w e r e d e l ib e r a t e lyp r o v o k e d b y t h e G o v e r n m e n t s o f t h e n o r t h e r n c o u n t r ie s o r b yt h e G o v e r n m e n t o f Gr e e c e , o r t h a t a p o lic y o f s y s t e m a t ic p r o v o c a t io n w a s p u r s u e d b y e it h e r s id e , o r t h a t i n c id e n t s in t h e m s e l ve s

c o n s t it u t e p r o o f , o f t h e a g g r e s s iv e . in t e n t io n s o f e i t h e r c o u n t r y . ”Is it n o t a f a c t t h a t t h is c o n c lu s io n r e fu t e s t h e a c c u s a t io n t h a t

Y u g o s la v ia , A lb a n i a a n d B u l g a r i a a r e g u i lt y o f b o r d e r in c id e n t s ?I s i t n o t a f a c t t h a t t h e c o m m i s s i o n , d e s p i t e t h e d i f f i c u l t c o n d i

t io n s o f it s w o r k , d u e m o s t ly t o t h e p o lit i c a l s it u a t i o n w h i c hb in d s it h a n d a n d f oo t , s a i d t h a t n o c o n v in c i n g p r o o f h a d b e e n

s u b m i t t e d t o s h o w t h a t Y u g o s la v i a , A l b a n i a a n d B u l g a r ia p r o v o k e d m e a s u r e s o f t h is k i n d , a n d t h a t c o n s e q u e n t ly t h e b o r d e r

in c id e n t s d o n o t in d ic a t e t h a t t h e s e c o u n t r ie s h a v e a n y a g gr e s s i ve

i n t e n t i o n s ? W h a t r e m a i n s , t h e n , o f t h e w i d e l y p u b l i c i s e d a c c u s a t io n t h a t Y u g o s la v i a , B u lg a r i a a n d A l b a n ia c h e r is h s o m e a g

g r e s s i v e i n t e n t i o n s t o w a r d s G r e e c e ? N o t h i n g a t a l l .A t t h e s a m e t im e it s h o u ld b e n o t e d t h a t m o s t o f t h e b o r de r

in c id e n t s h a v e n o t h in g t o do w it h g u e r i lla a c t io n s . F o r in s t a n c e ,

o n l y 12 o f t h e 198 b o r d e r in c i d e n t s o f w h i c h G r e e c e a c c us e s t h et h r e e n e i g h b o u r i n g c o u n t r i e s i n v o l v e a n a l l e g e d c r o s s i n g i n t o

G r e e c e b y g u e r i lla g r o up s fr o m A l b a n ia , B u l g a r i a a n d Yu g o s la v i a . C o n s e q u e n t ly t h e a b o v e c o n c l u s io n o f t h e c o m m is s i o n ’sm a j o r i t y i s n o t h i n g b u t a testimonium paupertatis, a r e c o g n i

t ion o f in so lvency .

H o w e v e r , e v e n t he s e n o n - p o lit ic a l in c id e n t s c o u ld h a v e b e e n

l a r g e l y a v e r t e d h a d t h e G r e e k a u t h o r i t i e s t a k e n p r o p e r c a r e ,w h i c h t h e y c a n n o t b e s a id t o h a v e d on e .

N o r c o u l d t h e c o m m i s s io n d e n y t h e fa c t t h a t a s e a r ly a s t h es p r ing o f 1946, th a t is , ne a r ly a ye a r an d a ha l f ago ,~ the .Bu lga r iap .

G o v e r n m e n t e x p re s s e d it s r e a d in e s s t o p u t b a c k in t o o p e r a t io nt h e G r e c o - B u lg a r i a n bo r d e r a g r e e m e n t o f 1 931, s u s p e n d e d b yt h e w a r , a n d r e q u e s t e d t he G r e e k G o v e r n m e n t t o c a r r y o ut t h e

p r o v i s i o n s o f t h i s p r o t o c o l , e v e n s h o u l d c h a n g e s b e n e c e s s a r y .

T h e G r e e k G o v e r n m e n t , h o w e v e r , fa i le d to r e s p o n d t o t h is p r o p o s a l, r e f e r r i n g t o t h e a b s e n c e o f d ip l o m a t ic r e la t io n s b e t w e e nt h e t w o c o u nt r ie s . Do e s n o t t h is c i r c u m s t a n c e t e s t ify t o th e p e a c e

a b le in t e n t io n s o f t h e B u lg a r i a n G o v e r n m e n t t o w a r d s Gr e e c e ,a n d , o n t h e o t h e r h a n d , t o Gr e e k in t e n t io n s t o w a r d s t h e B u lg a r ia n G o v e r n m e n t , w h i c h a r e fa r f r o m p e a c e a b le ?

T h e r e f o r e , q u it e c o n t r a r y t o t h e fa c t s is M r . T s a ld a r i s ’ s t a t e m e n t t h a t “ pe a c e a n d o r d e r in Gr e e c e w i ll b e r e s t o r e d o n ly w h e n

a n e n d is p u t t o a t t a c k s f r o m t h e n o r t h . ” T h e T s a l d a r is G ov e r n -

31



■ m e n t is b e in g a t t a c k e d a l l o v e r t h e c o u n t r y . T h e c i v il w a r in

Gr e e c e h a s s p r e a d t o t he w h o le o f Gr e e k t e r r it o r y , in c lu d i n g t h ed is t r ic t s m o s t r e m o t e f r o m t h e n o r t h e r n b o r d e r , s u c h a s th eP e lo p o n n e s e a n d t h e is l a n d s . T h is w a r is t h e m a in c a u s e o f t h e

d is t u r b a n c e s i n N o r t h e r n Gr e e c e , d u e t o t h e a b n o r m a l in t e r n a l

p o lit ic a l s i tu a t io n in t h a t c o u n t r y .

T h e G r e e k G o v e r n m e n t ’s s a v a g e p e r s e c u tio n o f t h e n a t io n a lm in o r it ie s a n d p o lit ic a l o p p o s it io n g r o u p s is a fa c t t h a t e v o k e s

n o d o u b t . T h e c o m m i s s io n w a s c o mp e lle d ^ t o a d m it t h is , p o in t i n gt o “t h e a t m o s p h e r e o f b it t e r n e s s a n d r e t r i b u t io n ” in Gr e e c e .A c t u a lly , , t h is m e a n s t h e u n b r i d le d F a s c is t t e r r o r t h e n r a g i n g in

G r e e c e , a n d s t i l l r a g i n g , a t e r r o r w h i c h i s t h e r e a l c a u s e o f t h ed a n g e r o u s s it u a t i o n in w h i c h G r e e c e fin d s h e r s e l f.

T h e s e in d is p u t a b le fa c t s t e s t if y in g t o th e i n t e r n a l c r i s is i nG r e e c e a r e s u ffic ie n t p r o o f t h a t it is h e r e , in t h e s p h e r e o f G r e e k

in t e r n a l p o lit ic a l r e la t io n s , t h a t a m e a n s o f o v e r c o m in g t h e G r e e k

c r i s i s s h o u l d b e s o u g h t .N o d o u b t t h i s c r is is w o u ld h a v e b e e n o v e r c o m e lo n g a g o, f u l ly

o v e r c o m e , a n d t h e G r e e k p e o p le c o u ld h a v e g o t d o w n t o t h e t a s k

o f p os t - w a r r e h a b ilit a t io n a s w e ll a s t h e ir m o r a l a n d m a t e r ia l

f o r c e s p e r m i t t e d , h a d t h i s n o t b e e n h a m p e r e d b y f o r e i g n

in t e r v e n t io n — in t e r v e n t io n b y B r it is h a r m e d f or c e s , n o w t o be

r e p la c e d b y in t e r v e n t io n b y A m e r ic a n a r m e d fo rc e s .. -T h e G r e e k q u e s t i o n is n o m e r e q u e s t i o n o f a b o r d e r in c i d e n t ,

o r e v e n o f t he r e la t io n s b e t w e e n G r e e c e a n d h e r n o r t h e r n n e ig h b o u r s . It s im p o r t a n c e is m u c h w id e r a n d g re a t e r . T h e G r e e k

q u e s t i o n is a q u e s t i o n o f h ig h p o lit ic s , b o u n d u p w it h q u e s t io n st h e s o l u t i o n o f w h i c h i n v o l v e s p r o b l e m s o f w o r l d i m p o r t a n c e .

T h is is s o c h ie f ly b e c a u s e Gr e e c e , to - d a y, do e s n o t b e lo n g t o h e r s e lf, b e c a u s e G r e e k p o lic y is d ir e c t e d n e it h e r b y t h e G r e e k

G o v e r n m e n t , n o r b y t h o s e s o c i a l p o l i t i c a l g r o u p s w h i c h s t a n db e h in d it . I n J u l y t h e B r i t is h m a g a z i n e “ E c o n o m is t , ” in a n a r t ic le“ G r e e c e o n t h e K n i f e ’s E d g e ,” w a s c o m p e lle d t o a d m it t h a t b ys u p p o r t in g G r e e k e c o n o m y , b y p r o v id in g a r m s a n d a s s is t in g in

t h e t r a in in g o f t h e G r e e k A r m y a n d c h a m p i o n in g G r e e k a ffa ir s

a t w o r ld a s s e m b lie s , t h e U n it e d S t a te s h a d b e c o m e t h e m a in ,d r iv i n g p o w e r i n G r e e k p o lit ic s .

A t p r e s e n t t h e s it u a t i o n in t h is r e s p e c t h a s g r o w n s t ill m o r ea c u t e . S i n c e S e p t e m b e r , t h e A m e r i c a n a u t h o r i t i e s h a v e u n d e r t a k e n to s u p p ly th e G r e e k A r m y , g e n d a r m e r i e a n d p o lic e . T h eG r e e k a u t h o r i t i e s h o l d i n c e s s a n t c o n f e r e n c e s a t t e n d e d b y r e p r e

s e n t a t iv e s o f th e A m e r i c a n a n d B r i t is h m ilit a r y m is s io n s , A m e r i c a n m ilit a r y a n d o t h e r e x p e r ts . La w s o n , a n A m e r ic a n e x p e r t , is

in c o m m a nd - o f t h e M in is t r y o f N a t io n a l E c o n o m y a n d c h a i r m a no f t h e jo i n t c o m m is s io n o n fo r e ig n t r a d e . T h e G r e e k s a r e n o tp e r m it t e d t o m a k e a n y f o r e ig n p u r c h a s e s w it h o u t M s kn o w le d g e .

A m e r ic a n e x p e r ts c o m m a n d t he T r e a s u r y — Ro s e m a n o n b u d g e t

q u e s t i o n s , a n d S p e n c e r o n q u e s t i o n s o f w a g e s a n d p e r s o n n e l o f G o v e r n m e n t in s t it u t io n s . W i t h t h e h e lp Of A m e r i c a n s u b

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s id ie s , t h e G r e e k A r m y is b e in g in c r e a s e d b y 3 0,00 0 m e n . M e a

s u re s a r e u n d e r w a y t o o r g a n i s e a s o - c alle d n a t io n a l g u a r d , f o r

w h i c h t h e A m e r i c a n s h a v e s a n c t i o n e d t h e e n l i s t m e n t o f 5 0 , 0 0 0m e n . M e a s u r e s a r e b e in g w o r k e d o u t fo r “ th e c o m p le t e e x t e r m i n a t io n o f r e b e ls . ” B e s id e s t h e G r e e k M in is t e r s , in v a r ia b l y p r e s e n t

in t h e C o u n c i l o f N a t i o n a l De f e n c e a r e t he ' c h ie f s o f t h e A m e r i

c a n a n d B r i t is h m ilit a r y m i s s io n s — L ov e s y , S ta c k e n b e r g , R a w lin s , T a l b o t, Gr e e n , W ic k h a m . P r e p a r a t io n s f o r a p u r g e o f G o v e r n m e n t i n s t it u t io n s a r e g o in g fu l l b la s t u n d e r t h e d ir e c t io n

o f so - c a lle d A m e r i c a n e x p e r t s .T h u s n o t h i n g h as b e e n le f t o f Gr e e k in d e p e n d e n c e a n d

s o v e r e i g nt y . T h e G r e e k G o v e r n m e n t m a c h in e h a s f a l le n c o m p le t e l y u n d e r t h e c o n t r o l o f t h e U . S .A .

H a s t h is h a d a n y b e n e fic ia l e ffe c t u p o n t h e e c o n o m ic s i t u a t io n

i n G r e e c e a n d t h e l i v i n g s t a n d a r d o f t h e G r e e k p e o p l e , a s w a sp r o m is e d b y t h e pr o te c t or s o f t h e G r e e k G o v e r n m e n t w h o

c la m o u r e d fo r a l l t h e w o r ld t o h e a r , t h a t a f t e r t h e s p e e c h o f t h e

U n i t e d S t a t e s P r e s i d e n t o n a i d t o G r e e c e , a l l k i n d s o f b l e s s i n g sw o u l d s h o w e r u p o n h e r a s fr o m a h o r n o f p le n t y ?1 I t is k n o w n f r o m th e s pe e ch of t he fo r m e r As s is t a n t Se c r e ta r y

o f S t a t e , M r . A c h e s o n , t h a t o f t h e t o t a l s u m o f A m e r i c a n a i d

150 m ill io n d o l la r s w e r e e a r m a r k e d fo r t h e A r m y a n d t h e r e s t fo re c o n o m ic r e h a b i lit a t i o n a n d t h e p u r c h a s e o f c o n s u m e r g oo ds .

H o w e v e r , th e r e c o n s t r u c t io n p la n a n n o u n c e d b y t h e h e a d o f t h eA m e r i c a n M is s io n in Gr e e c e , M r . G r is w o l d , p r o v id e s o n l y fo rt h e r e - e q u ip m e n t o f t h e p o r t s o f t h e P ir a e u s , S a lo n i k a a n d

V ol os , a s w e l l a s o f c e r t a i n a i r f i e l d s . W e a r e i n f a c t de a l i ng ,t h e r e f o r e , w it h t h e t r a n s f o r m a t io n o f Gr e e c e in t o a m i lit a r y b a s e

o f t h e U n it e d S ta te s , a n d n o t w i t h t h e r e h a b i lit a t i o n o f Gr e e k e c o n o m y . W e m a y n o t e t h a t e x c e p t fo r a c e r t a in q u a n t i t y o f

A m e r i c a n g r a i n n o o t h e r r e lie f h a s b e e n f o r t h c o m in g . T h is

“ r e l i e f , ” h o w e v e r , h a s f o u n d r e f l e c t i o n i n t h e r i s i n g i n d e x o f

r e t a il p r ic e s o f im p o r t e d fo o d s t u ffs , a n in c r e a s e a m o u n t i n g t o20- 35 pe r c e n t , a bove 1946 p r ic e s . T he p r ic e s o f c e r t a in e s s e n t ia lg oo ds , s u c h a s r ic e — w h i c h a r e d is a p p e a r i n g f r o m t h e s h o p s —h a v e r is e n e i g h t tim e s w i t h i n t w o m o n t h s . A n d this is q u it e

n a t u r a l, c o n s id e r in g t h a t r ic e , s u g a r , b u t t e r , b a k e r y g o o ds a r e

in t h e h a n d s o f p r ofit e e r s , s p e c u la t o r s a n d m i d d le m e n .

4. S u p p o r t e r s o f t h e A n t i- P o p u ia r B lo cA t t h is p o i n t I m u s t d w e ll o n t h e s p e e c h o f M . S p a a k , w h o

m a d e u s e o f a l l h is e lo q u e n c e i n o r d e r t o a c c u s e Y u g o s la v ia ,B u l g a r ia a n d A lb a n i a o f a l l m o r t a l s in s o n t h e o n e h a n d , a n d t o

p r e s e n t th e T s a l da r is G o v e r n m e n t a s a q u ie t a n g e l o f p e a c e o nt h e o t h e r . Ob v i o u s l y , i n o r d e r t o d is p o s e o f h is o p p o n e n t s i n t h e

e a s ie s t m a n n e r , M . S p a a k b u i lt h is a r g u m e n t s a r o u n d s u c h q ue s t io n s w h ic h , n o m a t t e r w h a t t h e r e p lie s , h a v e lit t le t o d o w i t h

t h e b a s ic p r o b le m f a c in g t h i s c o m m it t e e . T h u s , M . S p a a k b e g in sa n a ly s in g t h e q u e s t io n w h e t h e r t h e G r e e k G o v e r n m e n t is l e git i-

33



m a t e o r ille g it im a t e , a n d d is p l a y s e x t r e m e a r t fu ln e s s in f in d i n g

p r oo fs o f t h e le g it im a c y o f t he G r e e k G o v e r n m e n t , a lt h o u g h h es im u l t a n e o u s ly a d m it s t h e e x is t e n c e o f a t e n d e n c y t o r e g a r d t h e

G r e e k Go v e r n m e n t a s ille g it im a t e , a n d t h a t t h is t e n d e n c y is

b e c o m in g m o r e .a n d m o r e p r o n o u n c e d e v e r y d a y . ■T h a t is t r u e . W e f in d m o r e a n d m o r e r e a s o n a b le p e o p le r e c o g

n is i n g t h a t t he S o p h o u lis a n d T s a ld a r is G o v e r n m e n t is r e a l ly

ille g it im a t e . It is a p it y t h a t M . S p a a k n e v e r t r ie d t o a n a ly s e t h ec a us e s o f t h is e v e r m o r e w i d e s p r e a d t e n d e n c y to r e g a r d t he

S op ho u lis - T s a ld a r is G o v e r n m e n t a s ille g it im a t e , a n d t h a t h ea ls o fa ile d t o e x p l a in w h y t h is t e n d e n c y , a s h e s a id , is b e c o m in g

m o r e a n d m o r e w id e s p r e a d . M e a n w h ile t h is c e r t a in ly h a s v e r yw e ig h t y c a us e s . B u t le t us n o t s p e n d a n y m o r e t im e o n t h a t p o in t ,

s in c e w e a ll k n o w t h a t w h ile , t h e S o p h o ulis - T s a ld a r is G o v e r n

m e n t b e a r s it s s h a r e o f r e s p o n s i b ilit y fo r t h e c i v il w a r in Gr e e c e ,i t d oe s n o t , h o w e v e r , p l a y t h e d e c is i ve r o le in t h e G r e e k is s u e , isn o t t h e d e c is i ve f a c t o r in t h i s a f fa ir . T h e r e is n o n e e d , t h e r e fo r e ,

t o w a s t e to o m u c h t im e t a l k in g a b o u t t h e G r e e k G o v e r n m e n t .

M . S p a a k r e fe r r e d t o A r t i c le 2, p o in t 7 , o f t h e U N O C h a r t e r i n

o r d e r t o p r o ve t h a t t h e U n it e d N a t io n s O r g a n is a t io n a n d it s

m e m b e r s h a d n o r ig h t t o in t e r fe r e in t h e in t e r n a l a ffa ir s o f a n yS t a t e , o r e v e n t o c r it ic is e it s p o lic y . W h y is i t t h e n , t h a t M . S p a a k

d i s p l a y s s u c h i n c o n s i s t e n c y w h e n i t c o m e s t o d i s c u s s i n g , f o r i n s t a n ce , A m e r ic a n a n d B r i t is h in t e r v e n t io n in G r e e k a ffa ir s a n d

t h e s t a t i o n i n g o f B r it i s h fo r c e s i n Gr e e c e ? T r u e e n o u g h , M .S p a a k s a id o n ly a f e w w o r d s o n t h is p o i n t, a n d s o m ild l y a n d

c a u t io u s ly a s t h o u g h h e w a s a s k in g p a r d o n fo r h is in s o le n c e ; h eh a r d l y w h is p e r e d a f e w w o r d s a b o u t a c e r t a in u n d e n i a b le d e g re e

o f A m e r i c a n i nt e r f e r e n c e i n d o m e s t ic p o lic ie s in Gr e e c e , im m e

d ia t e ly a d d i n g t h a t h e w o u ld le a s t o f a l l w i s h t o a s s e r t t h a t t h is

in t e r fe r e n c e w a s c o m m e n d a b le , b u t t h a t h e b e lie v e d t h a t h isr e m a r k s w o u ld n o t m e e t w it h r e p r o a c h fr o m e it he r t h e G ov e r n

m e n t o f t h e U .S .A . o r t h e G o v e r n m e n t o f G r e a t B r i t a in .

M a y w e r e a s s u r e M. S p a a k o n t h is p o in t . H is “ c e r t a i n u n d e n i

a b l e d e g r e e ” o f c r it ic is m , a n d h i s m o d.e l c o n d u c t r e g a r d i n g t h isp r o b l e m , c a n e vo k e n o t h i n g b u t c o m p le t e a p p r o v a l a n d pr a is e

f r o m t h e a b o v e - m e n t io n e d h i g h ly p la c e d p a t r o n s . A ft e r a ll, e v e r y t h i n g M . S p a a k s a id le f t n o d o u b t a s t o h is a p p r o v a l o f A m e r ic a na n d B r i t i s h i n t e r v e n t i o n i n t h e i n t e r n a l a f f a i r s o f G r e e c e . T h e

m o r e s o, s in c e h e t r ie d t o p r o v e t h a t t h is in t e r f e r e n c e d i d n o tc o n t r a d i c t t h e U N O C h a r t e r .

B u t w h a t s h a ll w e d o , t h e n , w it h A r t i c le 2, p o in t 7, s o e lo

q u e n t ly u p h e ld b y M . S p a a k ? W e ll, M. S p a a k h a s a r e a d y- m a d e

a n s w e r . In d e e d , a n y G o v e r n m e n t m a y a s k a n ot he r G o v e r n m e n t

t o h e lp it m a in t a in p e a c e a n d o r d e r . T h is is c e r t a i nly t r u e , b u tt h e r e is a d e fin it e p r o v i s io n f o r s u c h c a s e s i n t h e c o n s t it u t io n s o f

S t a t e s . T h i s p r o v i s i o n i s l i k e w i s e c o v e r e d i n t h e c o n s t i t u t i o n o f

t h H ll i S t t f 1911 d t h i f i d i t h H ll i



t h a t “ f o r e i g n a r m i e s m a y n o t b e a l l o w e d t o s e r v e w i t h i n t h eH e l le n i c S t a t e a n d m a y n o t s t a y o n Gr e e k te r r it o r y o r pa s st h r o u g h i t o t h e r w i s e t h a n o n t h e s t r e n g t h o f l a w . ” I n a s m u c h

a s n o s u c h la w h a s b e e n is s u e d in Gr e e c e , t h e s t a y o f f o r e ig n

t r o o p s o n t h e t e r r i t o r y o f G r e e c e r e m a i n s u n l a w f u l , n o m a t t e rw h a t a m o u n t o f s y m p a t h y M . S p a a k a n d o t h e r r e s p e c t a b le a d v o

c a te s o f t h e T s a ld a r is G o v e r n m e n t m a y d i s p la y t o w a r d s t h isaf fa i r .

A p r o p o s o f t h i s , w e c a n n o t h e l p e m p h a s i s i n g t h e s p e c i f i cc h a r a c t e r o f B r i t is h m e t h o d s o f e s t a b lis h i n g o r d e r i n Gr e e c e , to

w h i c h M . S p a a k r e f e r r e d . T h i s w o u l d d e s e r v e s p e c i a l a n a l y s i s ,b u t , t im e n o t p e r m i t t in g , I a m o b lig e d t o li m it m y s e lf t o r e p l y in g

t o M . S p a a k ’s s t a t e m e n t t h a t t h e r e a r e n o g r o u n d s f o r s a y in g

t h a t t h e c i vil w a r i n G re e c e w a s c a u s e d b y t h e p r e s e n c e o f B r i t i s h f o r c e s t h e r e . A s f o r t h e c a u s e s o f t h e c i v i l w a r , I s h a l l

d e a l w it h t h e m s o m e w h a t la t e r . ,

I n t h is c o n n e c t io n I w o u ld lik e t o r e f e r t o t h e t e s t i m o n y o f s o

a u t h o r i t a t iv e a m a s t e r in t he s e a f fa ir s a s W i n s t o n C h u r c h il l (s e e“ L i f e ” m a g a z i n e , A p r il 14, 1 94 7), p r e v i o u s ly m e n t i o n e d b y t h e

Y u g o s la v r e p r e s e n t a t iv e h e r e i n c o n n e c t io n w i t h C h u r c h il l’s t e le g r a m t o G e n e r a l S c o b i e . H e r e i s w h a t C h u r c h i l l h a d t o s a y :

“ La t e o ne n ig h t a t th is t im e I d r a ft e d a t e le g r a m t o o u r G e n e r a lS c o bie , w h o h a d c o m e t o A t h e n s w it h 3,000 m e n to h e lp d r i v e

o u t t h e G e r m a n s , t h a t h e m u s t n o lo n g e r c o n s id e r h im s e lf n e u

t r a l b e t w e e n t h e G r e e k p a r t ie s , b u t , o n t h e c o n t r a r y , s h o u lds u s t a in P r e m i e r P a p a n d r e o u , a n d n o t h e s it a te t o fir e u p o n t h e

C o m m u n is t a s s a ila n t s . T h is o r d e r w a s s e n t a t a b o u t 2 a .m . o nt h e m o r n i n g o f D e c e m b e r 6, 1 944. It w a s o n l y ju s t in t im e . T h e

B r i t is h t r o op s , i n s m a ll p a r t ie s , a d v a n c e d a n d fir e d u p o n t h ea t t a c k i n g C o m m u n i s t s .......... ” ,

S o t h is is t h e o r d e r m a i n t a i n e d i n G re e c e b y B r i t is h fo r ce s o no r de r s f r o m B r it is h P r im e M in is t e r s a n d . a p p r o v e d b y t h e B e lg i a n P r im e M in is t e r .

N o w le t e a c h s c r u p ulo u s a n d im p a r t i a l p e r s o n s a y w h e t h e r o r

n o t t h e p r e s e n c e o f B r i t is h f or c e s in G r e e c e is a n y t h i n g b u t p a r t i c i p a t i o n b y t h e s e t r o o p s , i n t h e c i v i l w a r o n t h e s i d e o f t h eT s a l d a r i s c l i q u e .

A n d t h i s is w h a t M . S p a a k d e s c r ib e s a s le g i t im a t e a s s i s t a nc et o a le g i t im a t e G o v e r n m e n t , w h e r e a s a c t u a l ly i t is o b v io u s , c r u d e

a n d u n la w f u l i nt e r f e r e n c e i n t h e d o m e s t ic a ffa ir s o f Gr e e c e . S oh e r e is M . S p a a k d e f e n d in g t h e p r in c ip l e o f a s s is t a n c e t o a n y“ l e g i t im a t e ” G o v e r n m e n t . -

B u t h o w d id m a t t e r s s t a n d w it h t h is p r i n c ip le a t t he t im e o f t h e s t r u g g le b e t w e e n t h e le g it im a t e S p a n i s h R e p u b l ic a n G o v e r n

m e n t o f C a b a lle r o a n d N e g r in , s u p p o r t e d b y t h e S p a n is h pe o p le ,a n d t h e F a s c i s t r e b e l fo r c e s o f G e n e r a l . F r a n c o ? T h a t t r u l yle g it im a t e G o v e r n m e n t r e c e i ve d no s u p p o r t w h a t e v e r a t t h a tt i m e ; m o r e o v e r , t h r o u g h t h e e f f o r t s o f t h e L e a g u e o f N a t i o n s ,



w h e r e in S p a a k p l a y e d n o s m a l l r o le , t h e n o t o r io u s n o n - in t e r v e n t io n c o m m it t e e w a s e s t a b lis h e d . A s e v e r y o n e k n o w s , t h a t c o m

m it t e e w a s a c t u a lly r e d u c e d t o t h e p o s it io n o f a b o d y w h o s et a s k it w a s n o t t o h in d e r H it le r a n d M u s s o lin i in t h e ir in t e r v e n

t io n in t h e d o m e s t ic a ffa ir s o f S p a i n h e r o i c a lly f ig h t i n g t h e F a s c is t m ilit a r y c liq u e h e a d e d b y t h e r e b e l G e n e r a l F r a n c o .

H is t o r y r e p e a t s it s e lf, b u t w it h c e r t a in v a r ia t io n s . T h e fa c tt h a t t h e F a s c is t m u t i n y w as ,, d ir e c t e d a g a in s t t h e le g it im a t eG o v e r n m e n t d id n o t c aus e a n y a n x ie t y o r1 a la r m a m o n g t he

c e le b r a t e d c h a m p io n s o f n o n - in t e r v e n t io n , a n d t h is fa c t w a sa r t f u l l y u t i l i s e d b y H i t l e r a n d M u s s o l i n i i n t h e i r o n s l a u g h t

a g a i n s t t h e f o r c e s o f d e m o c r a c y a n d t h e S p a n i s h p e o p l e . N o w

t he s e p e o p le g r a b a t v a r io u s f o r m a lis t ic a n d le g a l a r g u m e n t s ,in c lu d i n g r e fe r e n c e s t o t h e le g it im a t e n a t u r e o f t h e G o v e r n m e n t

( w h ic h „ h o w e v e r , in n o w a y m e a n s t h a t th is G o v e r n m e n t is e i th e rd e m o c r a t ic o r p r o g r e s s i ve ) , in o r d e r t o c o n c e n t r a t e t h e ir fir e o n

t h e f o r ce s o f d e m o c r a c y , o n t h e m a s s e s o f t h e p e o p le . T o - d ay e v e r ye f fo r t is e x e r t e d , a n d a le g io n o f b a r r is t e r s - a t - la w a r e m u s t e r e dt o v in d ic a t e t h e a i d r e n d e r e d to t he “le g it im a t e ” G o v e r n m e n t

o f T s a l d a r i s i n h i s s t r u g g l e a g a i n s t t h e d e m o c r a t i c m o v e m e n t i n

Gr e e c e , a n d t o ju s t i fy a n t i- p o p u l a r blo c s a n d c o a lit io n s .T h a t is t h e t u r n t h in g s h a v e t a k e n n o w a d a y s , w it h G o d ’s he lp .

B u t w it h a ll t h e d iffe r e n c e in a t t it u d e r e g a r d in g t h e r ig h t o f t he

G r e e k a n d S p a n is h G o v e r n m e n t s t o a s s is t a nc e f r o m o t h e r c o u n t r ie s , b o t h t he s e c as e s h a v e s o m e t h in g in c o m m o n , n a m e ly , fe a r

o f t h e i n d o m i t a b l e g r o w t h o f s o c i a l f o r c e s l e a d i n g t o w a r d s t h ec o n s o l i d a t i o n o f a g e n u i n e , n e w d e m o c r a c y . Inde ira. T h a t i s t h es o u r c e o f a l l t h e w r a t h .

5. T o W h o m i s t h e S t a t e S o v e r e i g n t y c f t h e P e e p l e sa H i n d r a n c e ?

M a y I s ay a fe w w o r d s a b o u t S t a t e s o v e r e ig n ty ? A ft e r M r .M c N e il’s lig h t c a v a l r y a t t a c k o n S t a t e s o v e r e ig n t y , t h e e n e m i e s

o f S t a t e s o v e r e i g n t y b r o u g h t i n t o b a t t l e a s t i l l s t r o n g e r w e a p o n— M . S p a a k ’s s p e e c h. M . S p a a k s h o w e r e d o n th e id e a o f S t a t eS o v e r e ig n t y s u c h e p it h e t s as “ p o l it ic a l v e il, ” “ o b s o le t e id e a , ”“ o l d r e a c t i o n a r y i d e a , ” e t c . B u t t h i s a r t i l l e r y b a r r a g e d i d n o t

c o m e o fi, a l t h o u g h t h e r e w a s p le n t y o f n o is e a n d r a c k e t . M .S p a a k f a ile d t o r e le a s e a n y r e a l “m is s ile ” o r a n y n e w id e a , f o r

e v e r y t h in g h e s a i d h a d b e e n s a id e a r lie r — a n d m u c h b e t te r , a tt h a t — b y t h o s e o p p o n e n t s o f S t a t e s o v e r e i g n t y w h o h a v e b e e n

p r e a c h i n g t h i s s u s p i c i o u s d o c t r i n e f o r t h e l a s t t w e n t y y e a r ' s .

T h e m o s t p r o m in e n t a m o n g t h e m w e r e D u g u y a n d o th e r ju r is t ss u c h as M o r e lle t , Ge o r g e s S e e lie s , L o u i s L e f o u r ( w h o la t e r o nb e c a m e a c o lla b o r a t io n i s t a n d o p e n ly d e fe n d e d t h e le g it im a t e

n a t u r e o f in t e r v e n t io n in h is “ Co u r s e o f In t e r n a t i o n a l L a w ” )



T h e s e a r e t h e o ld L e a g u e o f N a t io n s ’ t u n e s r e - a r r a n g e d . I t w i ll

b e r e m e m b e r e d t h a t th e id e a o f a “ s u pe r - s t at e ,” o r a “ s u p e r im p o s e d S t a t e , ” w a s p r o p o u n d e d b y t h e m o s t p r o m in e n t fig ur e sin t h e L e a g u e o f N a t io n s , f r o m t h e v e r y f ir s t d a y t h a t s t ill- b o r n

c h ild w a s c o n c e iv e d .T h i s f a c t h a s a d e f i n i t e r e a s o n f o r i t s e x i s t e n c e . T h e d e v e l o p

m e n t o f c a p it a lis m , a n d p a r t i c u l a r ly it s e n t r y i n t o i ts h ig h e rs t a ge — t h e e r a o f im p e r ia l is m — is b o u n d u p w it h t h e d e s ir e f o rd o m in a t io n o v e r o t he r s , a n d f o r t e r r it o r ia l a n n e x a t io n s . T h is , o nt h e o t h e r h a n d , p r o m o t e s g r o w in g r e s is t a n c e a m o n g n a t io n s

w h o s e n a t io n a l c o ns c io us n e s s h a s b e e n a w a k e n e d . T h i s r e s is t a n c em a y e a s ily r e s o lv e i ts e lf in t o d a n g e r o u s m o v e m e n t s a n d o t he rm e a s u r e s t o c he c k fo r e ig n c a p i t a l. T h e a w a k e n in g n a t io n s s t r iv e

t o u t ilis e e v e r y m e a n s fo r . t h e ir e c o n o m i c a n d p o l it ic a l e m a n c ip a t i o n , a ll t h os e m e a n s a n d m e t h o d s w h ic h c a p it a l is m it s e lf

f u r n i s h e d i n it s s t r u g g le fo r d o m in a t i o n . T h u s t h e id e a is b o r no f a u n it e d , n a t io n a l, i n d e p e n d e n t a n d s o v e r e i g n S t a t e a s t hein s t r u m e n t f o r p r e v e n t i n g t h e e x p l o it a t io n o f t h e p e o p le o f a

g i v e n c o u n t r y b y c a p i t a l i s t i n t r u d e r s f r o m a l i e n c o u n t r i e s . A n di t is p r e c is e ly a c o u n t r y ’s S t a t e s o v e r e i g n ty t h a t h i n d e r s t h ea c t i v it ie s o f o t h e r c o u n t r ie s w h i c h s e e k t o e s t a b lis h t h e ir e c o n om i c s u p r e m a c y , to e x t e n d t h e s p h e r e o f t h e ir e c o n o m ic a n d p o lit i

ca l in f luence .

T h is d e s ir e t o e s t a b l is h m o n o p o l ie s is i n c o m p a t i b le w i t h s u c hp r in c i p le s a s S t a t e s o v e r e ig n t y, w h i c h s t a n d a s a n . in s u p e r a b l eb a r r i e r a g a i n s t m o n o p o l i s t i c a s p i r a t i o n s .

H e n ce t h e a t t e m p t s t o d o a w a y w it h S t a t e s o v e r e ig n ty .L e a r n e d m e n — ju r is t s , e c o n o m is t s , d i p lo m a t s a n d p o lit ic i a n s — ■

a r e m o b i lis e d f o r a c r u s a d e a g a i n s t t h e id e a o f S t a t e s o v e r e ig n t y ,w h i c h b e c o m e s s u p e r f lu o u s fo r a d e v e l op e d c a p it a l is t s y s t e m in

q u e s t o f e v e r n e w m a r k e t s , i n q u e s t o f s u p r e m a c y . C o n s e q u e n t l yt h e i d e a o f S t a t e s o v e r e i g n ty ha s t o b e d is c r e d it e d a s a n “ o ldp o l i t i ca l v e i l , ” a s an “o b s o l e t e” an d “ r eac t i o n a ry ” i d ea .

E v e r y t h in g w e h a v e h e a r d h e r e f r o m M . S p a a k a b o u t St a te

s o v e r e i g n ty f u l ly c o m p lie s w i t h t h e r e q u ir e m e n t s o f t h e c a p i t a lis t s y s t e m , w h i c h ha s r e a c h e d a s t a g e o f d e v e l o p m e n t w h e n t h eS t a t e _ s o v e r e ig n t y o f o t h e r c o u n t r ie s b e c o m e s a b a r r i e r t o t he

r e a l is a t io n o f e x p a n s io n is t p la n s . M . S p a a k s a i d t h a t S t a t es o v e r e i g n t y i s a r e a c t i o n a r y i dea . I t i s i ndeed a r e a c t i o n a r y i dea — f o r it s t a n d s in t h e w a y o f t h e “ p r o gr e s s iv e ” m o v e m e n t o f

i m p e r i a l i s m , m a r c h i n g a r o u n d t h e g lo b e w it h b a r e d t e e t h a n dg r a s p in g , o u ts t r e t c h e d c la w s . M . S p a a k s a i d t h a t S t a t e s o v e r e ig n

t y is “o b s o l e t e . ” M. Spaak - is n o t q u i t e p re c is e : it is an id e a w h i chc e r t a i n m e n w o u ld lik e t o d i s c a r d a s o b s o le t e , s in c e s t r o n g c a p it a l is t c o u n t r ie s d o n o t n e e d i t a n y m o r e . T h e y n e e d s o m e t h in gd i a m e t r i c a l l y o p p o s e d : t h e d e s t r u c t i o n b o t h o f t h e i d e a o f

s o v e r e i g n t y a n d o f t h e s o v e r e i g n t y i t s e l f — o f o t h e r c o u n t r i e s .S t a t e s o v e r e ig n ty is t h e b a n n e r o f in d e p e n d e n c e a n d c o m b a t

f o r m a n y a n d m a n y a c o u n t r y a g a i n s t t h e r a p a c i o u s a p p e t i t e s o f



c a p it a l is t m o n o p o l is t s . M . S p a a k ’s a p p e a l t o d is c a r d “ a ll a t t r i

b u te s o f n a t io n a l s o v e r e ig n t y ” m a y s e r v e a s a n e x c e lle n t illu s t r a

t io n t o w h a t I h a v e s a id , fo r it c o m p lie s f u lly w it h t h e in te r e s t so f b ig c a p it a lis t m o n o p o lie s d r e a m in g o f w o r ld d o m in a t i o n . N a t u

r a lly , M. S p a a k a n d h is c o lle a g u e s c a n n o t a g r e e w it h t h e v ie w p o in t o f t h e r e p r e s e n t a t iv e s o f t ho s e c o u n t r ie s w h ic h r e je c t a n y

a t t e m p t s t o r e s t r ic t t h e ir S t a t e s o v e r e i g nt y b y m e a n s o f c o m m is

s io ns a n d c o m m it t e e s o f e v e r y s o r t— a r e s t r ic t io n t o w h i c h

Gr e e c e fo r in s t a n c e a gr e e s . S h e h a s p r a c t ic a lly ~ n o a l te r n a t iv e ,

w it h h e r S t a t e s o v e r e ig n ty , s m a s h e d t o s m it he r e e n s . W h e n t h e

a n c ie n t Ro m a n s w a n t e d t o k n o w w h os e in te r e s t s w e r e s e r v e d b yp a r t i c u la r a c t io n s th e y us e d t o a s k Cut prodesi? — to w ho m is i tu se f u l ?

Is it n o t c le a r t h a t S p a a k ’s p r e a c h in g a g a i n s t S t a t e s o v e r e ig n ty

s e r v e s n o t t h e i nt e r e s t s o f pe a c e - lo v in g n a t i o n s , t h e ir , fr e e d o m ,

in d e p e n d e n c e a n d w e lfa r e , b u t d ia m e t r i c a lly o p p os e d in te r e s t s .

N o t o ne s in g le S t a t e w h i c h r e s p e c ts it s o w n in d e p e n d e n c e a n d

n a t io n a l s o v e r e ig n t y w o u ld a g r e e w it h t h is i d e a , s o u t t e r l y a lie nt o it s in t e r e s t s . ’

8 . W h o - Re a lly T h r e a t e n s t he in d e p e n d e n c e a n dT e r r it o r i a l In t e g r it y o f Gr e e c e ?

N o o ne n o w d e n ie s t he in c a p a c it y a n d c o r r u p t io n o f t h e p r e

s e n t Gr e e k G o v e r n m e n t . E v e n th os e w h o s u p p o r t t h a t Go v e r n m e n t a c k n o w le d g e it , in o ne w a y o r a n o t h e r . T h is G o v e r n m e n t

i s b e c o m i n g i n c r e a s i n g l y h a t e f u l t o t h e p e o p l e . T h i s h a d t o b e

a d m it t e d e v e n b y C o n s e r v a t iv e c ir c le s a n d t h e ir pr e s s o r g an sw h ic h a r e n o w s o u n d in g t h e a la r m ,, s a y in g t h a t t he s e n t im e n t s

m o u n t i n g a m o n g t h e m a s s e s o f t h e p e o p l e a r e d u e t o t h e

p o lic y o f t h e G r e e k G o v e r n m e n t a n d th e G r e e k g e n d a r m e r i e ,t o e x t r a o r d in a r y le g is la t io n d e p r iv i n g t h e p e o p le o f t h e ir c iv ic

l i b e r t i e s , a n d t o t h e d e t e r i o r a t i n g e c o n o m i c s i t u a t i o n i n G r e e c e .

A s t h e j o u r n a l “ E c o n o m i s t , ” w h i c h I h a v e a l r e a d y c i t e d , s a i d ,t h e G r e e k p e o p le t u r n t o t h e g u e r illa s a s t h e ir o n ly h o pe a g a in s tt h e c o r r u p t io n a n d t y r a n n y o f t h e G o v e r n m e n t .

M e a n w h ile , Gr e e c e h a s t o u c h e d t h e d e p t h s o f d e s p o n de n c y .M r . P a u l P o r t e r , fo r m e r h e a d o f t h e A m e r i c a n M is s io n ir i Gr e e c e ,

h a d t o a d m it t h is in a n a r t ic le “ Gr e e c e N e e d s a M ir a c l e , ” p u b lis h e d in “ C o llie r ’s ” m a g a z i n e o f Se p t e m b e r 20, 1947. M r . Po r t e r ,

o f .c our s e pr e s c r ib e s a t r e a t m e n t in a c c o r d a nc e w it h p re s e n t- d a y

A m e r i c a n fo r e ig n p o l ic y . B u t e v e n h e h a s t o c o nfe s s t h a t t h e

s it u a t io n i n Gr e e c e is m a r k e d b y a d e e p n a t io n a l d e s p o n de n c y .M r . P o r t e r a s ks fo r a “ m ir a c l e ” i n Gr e e c e , b u t h is u n d e r s t a n d i n g

o f m i r a c le do e s n o t g o a n y fu r t h e r t h a n t h e r e o r g a n is a t io n o f t h e

G r e e k a d m in is t r a t io n a n d Gr e e k G o v e r n m e n t a c c o r d in g t o th e



a b r o a d . I b e l i e v e t h e y w a n t t o u t i l i s e f o r e i g n h e l p t o p r e s e r v ef o r t h e m s e lv e s , in p e r p e t u it y , t h e p r i v ile g e s o f t h e ' s m a l l b a n k

in g a n d c o m m e r c i a l c liq u e w h i c h is t h e f o r c e b e h i n d t h e s c e ne s in

G r e e c e . ”M r . P o r t e r w a s f r a n k w h e n h e s a i d t h a t t h is “ in v i s ib l e G r e e k

f o r c e , ” t h i s , c l ique “ is d e t e r m ine d a bove a l l t o p r o t e c t it s f ina n -p r e r o g a t iv e s a t w h a t e v e r e x p e n s e t o t h e e c o n o m ic h e a l t h o f t h e

c o u n t r y , ” a n d t h a t “m e m b e r s o f t h a t c liq u e w a n t t o p r e s e r v e at a x s y s t e m w h ic h a s s u re s t h e m fa n t a s t ic a d v a n t a g e s ............ It

w o u ld n e v e r d a w n o n t h e m to in v e s t t he s e p r o fit s i n t h e c o u n t r y ’s

r e h a b i l i t a t i o n . ” *

M . S p a a k is o b v io u s ly q u i t e s a t is f ie d w i t h t h is “ le g i t im a t e ”G o v e r n m e n t . B u t w h a t h a s M r . P a u l P o r t e r , h e a d o f t h e A m e r i c a n M i s s i o n , t o s a y a b o u t i t — t h e m a n w h o w a s s e n t t o a s s i s t

t h a t G o v e r n m e n t , b u t w h o c o u ld n o t p a s s o v e r i n s ile n c e t h e

t h i n g s h e s a w t h e r e w i t h h i s o w n e y e s ?A c c o r d i n g t o Mr . P o r t e r , t h e s e c h a r a c t e r is t ic s o f t h e p r e s e n t

G r e e k G o v e r n m e n t w e r e e x c e l l e n t l y u t i l i s e d b y t h e B r i t i s h f o rt h e ir o w n e n d s . “ T h e B r i t is h f o r m u l a , ” w r it e s M r . P o r t e r , wh o s e

c o m p e t e n c e i n t h i s r e g a r d l e a v e s n o d o u b t , “ i n s u c h c a s e s w a sa lw a y s c o l la b o r a t io n w i t h th e n a t i v e r u l in g c la s se s — b u y i n g

t h e i r s u p p o r t b y c o n f i r m i n g t h e m i n t h e i r p o w e r t o e x p l o i t t h em a s s e s , a n d r e ly in g o n t h e m t o h o ld t h e pe o p le d o w n w i t h

g e n d a r m e r i e a n d w h i p s . ”T h e s e a r e n o t m y w o r d s , .t h is is n o t “ Mo s c o w p r o p a g a n d a . ”

T h i s p r o p a g a n d a c o me s f r o m a n A m e r i c a n m a g a z in e , “ C o l lie r ’s ,”

w h i c h c a r r i e d M r . P a u l P o r t e r ’s a r t ic l e in i ts is s u e o f S e p t e m

ber 20, 1947.S u c h is t h e s it u a t io n i n G r e e c e , w h i c h f in d s i t s e lf i n t h e g r i p

o f b a n k e r s a n d s t o c k b r ok e r s p r e p a r e d to s e l l o u t t h e i r c o u n t r y ,w h o l e s a l e o r r e t a i l, t o t h e h ig h e s t b i d d e r . T h e s e a r e b u s in e s s m e n

in t e n s e ly h a t e d b y t h e G r e e k p e o p le , a n d e v e n o ffic ia ls l ik e M r .P a u l P o r t e r , f o r m e r h e a d o f t h e A m e r i c a n M is s io n i n Gr e e c e ,

c a n n o t b u t a d m it t h is fa c t . ·W o u l d M r . T s a l d a r is , M r . Jo h n s o n , M r . M c N e i l o r M . S p a a k

d e n y t he s e f ac t s ? W il l t h e y c o n t in u e p r e s e n t i ng m a t t e r s a s

t h o u g h t h e p e r f id io u s i n t r ig u e s o f G r e e c e ’s n o r t h e r n n e ig h b o u r s

w e r e t h e r e a l t r o u b le , a n d n o t t h e i n t e r n a l p o l it ic a l c r is is c a u s e din t h e fir s t p la c e b y t t ie G r e e k G o v e r n m e n t it s e l f, w h i c h d oe s n o t

e n j o y t h e t r u s t o f th e G r e e k n a t io n ?

H o w c y n i c a lly , t h e n , s o u n d t h e i n c a n t a t i o n s o f T s a ld a r i s a n dc o m p a n y a b o u t t h e d a n g e r m e n a c i n g th e p o l it ic a l in d e p e n d e n c e

o f G r e e c e , t h e d a n g e r c o m in g , a l le g e d ly , fr o m Yu g o s la v ia ,

A l b a n ia a n d B u l g a r i a — w h e n t h e p o l it ic a l in d e p e n d e n c e o f

Gr e e c e h a s b e e n t r a m p l e d o n a n d o u t r a g e d b y t h is v e r y T s a l d a r is

a n d c o m p a n y . It h a s b e e n t r a m p l e d a n d o u t r a g e d i n t h e in t e r e s t s

o f t h e c liq u e o f b a n k e r s a n d s t o c k b r o k e r s w h o e n s la v e d t h e

• Re t r a n s la t e d f r o m t h e Ru s s ia n .

39



G r e e k p e o p le — a p e o p le h u r le d i n t o a n a by s s o i - mis e ry a n d

l a w l e s s n e s s .A s fo r t h e d a n g e r t o G r e e c e ’s p o lit ic a l in d e p e n d e n c e , w o u ld it

n o t s u ffic e t o c it e t h e a b o v e f a ct s , w h ic h c o n v in c i n g ly p r o v e t h a t

G r e e c e ’s p o lit ic a l in d e p e n d e n c e is e n d a n g e r e d b y e x t e r n a l fo r ce sr u d e ly in t e r f e r i n g w i t h d o m e s t ic G r e e k a f fa ir s f o r t h e ir o w n

e x p a n s i o n i s t e n d s ?

L e t u s t u r n t o t h e d a n g e r t o G r e e c e ’s t e r r it o r ia l in t e g r it y ,a lle g e d to c o m e f r o m Y u g o s la v ia , B u l g a r ia a n d A lb a n i a . T h eG r e e k G o v e r n m e n t , ba c k e d b y t h e G o v e r n m e n t s o f t h e U n it e d

S t a te s a n d G r e a t B r i t a in , d e c la r e s t h a t t h e Yu g o s la v a n dB u l g a r ia n G o v e r n m e n t s a r e s u p p o r t in g b y p r o p a g a n d a a n d o t he r

m e a n s t h e m o v e m e n t t o s e p a r a t e M a c e d o n ia fr o m Gr e e c e a n dt o i n c o r p o r a t e i t i n Y u g o s l a v i a .

N o t h in g m o r e r id ic u lo u s c o u ld b e im a g in e d t h a n t he s e c r u d e lyf a b r i c a t e d a s s e r t io n s . T h e ir a r t i fic i a lit y is a p p a r e n t t o e v e r y o n e .

T h e s e a s s e r t io n s a r e b a s e d on :

1. S o m e q u o t a t io n s fr o m u t t e r a n c e s b y Yu g o s la v a r id B u lg a r i a n p o lit ic a l fig u r e s a n d s o m e q u o t a t io n s f r o m a c o u p le o f

n e w s p a p e r s ;

2 . O n s e v e r a l t e s t i m o n i e s c o n c e r n i n g s o m e l e g e n d a r y

“ A e g e a n b u r e a u ” h e a d e d b y a 20 y e ar - o ld b o y a n d s o me M a c e

d o n i a n o r g a n is a t i o n ( V .M . R .O . ).

T h e G r e e k G o v e r n m e n t a n d t h e m a j o r i ty o f th e S e c u r it y C o u n

c i l’s C o m m i s s io n r e fe r to s e v e r a l q u o t a t io n s f r o m s p e e c he s b y

M r . V la c h o v , V ic e - C h a ir m a n o f t h e Y u g o s la v N a t io n a l As s e m b ly ,M r . K o lis e v s k i, P r im e M in is t e r o f t h e M a c e d o n i a n R e p u b l ic a n d

M a r s h a l T it o , a ls o t o s o m e . a r t ic l e s p u b l is h e d i n t h e Y u g o s la v

n e w s p a p e r s “B o r b a ” a n d “N o v a M a c e d o n ia .”

M e n t io n s h o u ld b e m a d e o f t h e fa c t t h a t t he s e s p e e c he s a n dw r i tin g 's a p p e a r e d i n Oc t o b e r , 1 946, a n d e v e n e a r lie r , w h e n t h e

C o u n c il, o f F o r e i g n M in is t e r s a n d t h e P a r is P e a c e C o n fe r e n c e

w e r e d is c u s s in g t h e d r a f t pe a c e t r e a t ie s a n d w h e n v a r io u s t e r r it o r ia l a n d o t h e r q u e s t io n s in v o lv e d in t h e p e a c e s e t t le m e n t w e r eb e in g d is c u s s e d in m a n y c o u n tr ie s .

N o w le t u s lo o k in t o t he s e u t t e r a n c e s . Le t u s c h e c k w h a t h e r e s y

t h e y e x p o u n d . W e s h a ll f in d t h a t , in h is s t a t e m e n t t o ‘t h e F r e n c h

p r e s s in S e p t e m b e r , 1 946, M r . V la c h o v s a id t h a t t h e M a c e d o n ia np e o p l e e x p e c t e d c o m p l e t e e m a n c i p a t i o n a n d p o l i t i c a l u n i t y , a n d

t h a t t h is w o u ld b e a t t a i n e d u n d e r t h e a e g is o f t h e M a c e d o n i a nR e p u b l i c w i t h i n Y u g o s l a v i a . E l s e w h e r e M r . V l a c h o v s a i d :

“ G re e c e h a s n o r ig h t t o c la i m A e g e a n M a c e d o n ia , f r o m a n yp o i n t o f v i e w w h a t e v e r : g e o g r a p h i c a l , e t h n o g r a p h i c a l , h i s t o r i c a l ,p o l i t i c a l o r e c o n o m i c . ”

S i il id d b M K li k i M P j d



s la v i a c o u l d n o t r e m a in in d i ff e r e n t t o t h e l iq u i d a t i o n o f h e r

p e o p le i n G re e c e , o r t o t h e i r r i g h t s a n d d e m a n d s f o r s e lf- d e te r

m in a t io n a n d u n it y w it h t h e i r b r o th e r s in Yu g o s la v ia .

T h e n a t u r e o f t h e s e s o- c alle d a t t e m p t s b y Yu g o s la v ia o n t h e

t e r r i t o r ia l in t e g r it y o f Gr e e c e is n o w c le a r — a t t e m p t s w h i c h t h e

A m e r ic a n G o v e r n m e n t d e m a n d s s h a l l b e p r e v e n t e d b y a c t io n

u n d e r A r t ic le 7 o f th e U N O C h a r t e r , p r o v i d in g a s w e k n o w f o r

c o m p u l s o r y m e a s u r e s . M e a n w h ile , t h e U N O C h a r t e r , in A r t i c l e 1,C la u s e 2 , s p e c ifie s t h e n e e d t o r e s p e c t t h e p r i n c i p le o f s e l f- d e t e r

m in a t i o n o f p e o p le s a s a c a r d in a l p u r p o s e o f t h e U n i t e d N a t io n s

O r g a n i s a t i o n . W e c a n s ee t h a t t h e s p e e ch e s q u o t e d a b o v e c o n

t a i n n o t h i n g b a d i n t h is r e s p e c t.

I n t h e ir e ffo r t t o p r o v e t h a t Yu g o s la v i a m a d e a t t e m p t s o n t he

t e r r i t o r i a l in t e g r it y o f Gr e e c e , t h e G r e e k G o v e r n m e n t a ls o r e

f e r r e d t o M a r s h a l T i t o ’s s p e e c h i n S k o p l je o n O c t o b e r 11, 19 45 ,

a n d t o h is i n t e r v i e w o n O c t o b e r 16, 1 94 6. T h e s e “ p r o o f s ” d e s e r v es o m e a t t e n t i o n — t h e y a r e a n e x a m p l e o f t h e k in d o f t e s t i m o n ie s

d e s c r ib e d in ju r i s p r u d e n c e a s praeparierte Zeugen, m e a n i n g c o n

c o c te d o r fa ls i fie d e v id e n c e . A n e n t ir e s e n t e n c e h a s b e e n in s e r t e d

in t o M a r s h a l T it o ’s s p e e c h of Oc t o b e r 11— “ W e s h a ll t a k e m e a

s u r e s f o r t h e r e - u n io n o f a l l M a c e d o n i a n s . ” T h is s e n t e n c e is a b

s e n t in t h e a u t h e n t ic s p e e c h , f o r it w a s n e v e r s p o k e n a t a ll. A n

o t h e r s e n t e nc e — “ S u c h is o n e o f o u r g u i d in g p r in c i p le s ”— h a s

b e e n d e le t e d f r o m t h e s p e e ch a n d r e p la c e d b y t h e w o r d s “ W es h a ll t a k e m e a s u r e s ”— w o r d s t h a t w e r e n o t p r o n o un c e d .

T h e s a m e o p e r a t io n w a s a p p l ie d t o M a r s h a l T it o ’s in t e r v i e w

o f O c t o b e r 1 6, 19 46 , c it e d b y M r . T s a ld a r i s i n t h e S e c u r i t y

C o u n c il o n De c e m b e r 12. T h is f r a u d w a s p r e p a r e d b y M r . T s a l

d a r is b y m e a n s o f a v e r y s im p l e t r ic k : h e d e le t e d fr o m t h e i n t e r

v ie w a c e r t a in s e n t e nc e , s u b s t it u t in g f o r it a n o t h e r w h i c h h a d

n e v e r b e e n p r o n o u n c e d b y t h e Y u g o s l a v P r im e M in is t e r . M a r s h a lT it o a c t u a l ly s a id t h is : “A s r e g a r d s t h e s t e ps w e s h a ll t a k e b e

fo r e t h e U n it e d N a t io n s O r g a n i s a t i o n , I c a n n o t t e l l y o u n o w w h a t

t h e y w i ll be , b u t o n e t h in g is c l e a r — w e s h a l l t a k e a p p r o p r i a t e

s t e p s . ”M r . T s a ld a r i s , a t t h e m e e t in g o f t h e S e c u r i t y C o u n c il o f D e c e m

b e r 12, 19 46, t r a n s f o r m e d t h i s p h r a s e i n t o : “ I c o u l d n o t t e ll y o u

w h a t m e a s u r e s w e s h a ll t a k e , b u t w e c e r t a i n ly s h a ll t a k e m e a

s u r e s t o p u t a n e n d t o t e r r o r t o w h i c h n a t io n a l m in o r i t ie s in

Gr e e c e , e s p e c ia lly m i n o r it ie s in A e g e a n M a c e d o n i a , a r e s u b

je c t e d . ” H e r e w e h a v e a c a s e of o b v io u s f r a u d . A n d i t is o n t h e

b a s is o f s u c h f r a u d u le n t “ p r o o fs ” t h a t t h e m a jo r it y o f t h e C o m

m i s s i o n a r e b o l d e n o u g h t o d e c la r e t h a t Yu g o s l a v i a is fo m e n t i n gt h e a s p i r a t io n s o f S la v o - M a c e d o n ia n s in G r e e c e t o w a r d s a n

a u t o n o m o u s M a c e d o n ia .

A n d i t is o n t h e b a s is o f s u c h s o - c a lle d p r o o f s t h a t w e h e r e a r eu r g e d b l in d ly t o e n d or s e t h e C o m m is s io n ’s r e p o r t , r e p l e t e w i t h

u n j u s t i fie d a n d u n fo u n d e d c o n c lu s io n s , t h e g r e a t e r p a r t o f w h i c h

— a n d t h e m o s t i m p o r t a n t p o in t s , a t t h a t — p r o v e s t o be f or g e d

41 F



a n d c o m p l e t e ly u n t r u s t w o r t h y . V e r b a l e x p r e s s io ns o f v ie w s ,

d e s ir e s a n d s t r i vin g s c a n n o t i n t h e m s e lv e s s e r v e a s g r o u n d s f o ra c c u s i n g o t h e r s o f e x p a n s i o n i s t o r a g g r e s s i v e i n t e n t i o n s , t h e

m o r e s o s in c e th e Yu g o s la v p o l it ic a l le a d e r s in v a r ia b l y e m p h a s is e

t h e ir in t e n t io n t o s e c u r e a ju s t s e t t le m e n t o f t h e M a c e d o n i a n

q u e s t io n , p e a c e fu lly , w it h t h e h e lp o f t he U n i t e d N a t io n s O r g a n isa t ion .

T h e Yu g o s la v r e p r e s e n t a t iv e d r e w t h e C o m m is s io n ’s a t t e n t io nt o th e a b ov e - m e n tio ne d f r a u d , a n d t h u s i t w a s w e ll a w a r e o f

t h is e p is o d e . N e v e r t h e le s s , t h e C o m m is s io n ’s m a j o r it y p a id n o

h e e d t o it , a n d f a ile d t o d r a w a n y c o n c lu s io n s f r o m it . T h is

u n d o u b t e d ly 'goe s t o p r o v e t h e in c o r re c t n e s s o f t h e m e t h o d s o f

t h e C o m m is s io n ’s m a j o r it y , w h i c h a c t e d in a o ne - s id e d a n d b ia s e dm a n n e r , w it h o u t r e a c t in g p r o p e r ly to t h e fa c t t h a t im p o r t a n t

d o c u m e n t s h a d o b v i o u s l y b e e n f a l s i f i e d .M a y I t u r n to B u l g a r ia ? H e r e m a t t e r s a r e ju s t as un s a t is f a c

t o r y a s in t h e c a s e o f Yu g o s la v ia . S ix m e m b e r s o f t h e C o m m i s s io nt e l l u s t h a t t h e . th r e a t t o G re e c e ’s t e r r it o r ia l in t e g r it y c o m e s fr o m

B u l g a r i a , a n d w a s e x p r e s s e d , f o r in s t a n c e , in t h e s p e e c h o f t h e

B u l g a r i a n P r i m e M i n i s t e r , M r . D i m i t r o f f .

T h e r e l e v a n t s e c t i o n o f h i s s t a t e m e n t , m a d e i n A u g u s t , 1 9 4 5 ,

r e a d s : “ T h e e le c t io n s in P ir in M a c e d o n ia w i ll follo\ v t h e g e n e r a l

' p r in c ip le s o f t h e c o n s o lid a t i o n o f t h e B u l g a r i a n P a t r io t i c F r o n t

a n d o f t h e e s t a b lis h m e n t o f t h o r o u g h ly f r ie n d ly r e la t io n s a n dc lo s e c o - o p e r a tio n w it h t h e n e w Y u g o s la v ia , s in c e o n l y in t h is

w a y s h a l l w e b e a ' b l e f i n a l l y t o s e t t l e t h e M a c e d o n i a n q u e s t i o n .

T h e v ic t o r y o f t h e P a t r io t ic F r o n t a t t h e e le c t io n s , t h e f r a t e r n it y

a n d u n i t y b e t w e e n t h e B u l g a r i a o f th e P a t r io t ic F r o n t a n d t he

n e w Yu g o s la v F e d e r a t io n , w ill c e r t a in ly e lim i n a t e b a r r i e r s o n

t he p a t h to th e n a t io n a l e m a n c ip a t io n o f t h e e n t ir e M a c e d o n i a nn a t i o n . ”

E v e n t h e m o s t e x a ' c tin g c r i t ic c o u l d g a t h e r fr o m t h e a b o v en o t h i n g e v e n r e m o t e l y r e s e m b l i n g e x p a n s i o n i s t a s p i r a t i o n s , t h e

m o r e s o s in ce t h e B u lg a r i a n r e p r e s e n t a t iv e t o ld t h e C o m m is s io nt h a t B u l g a r i a c h e r is h e d n o a g g re s s iv e p la n s w h a t e v e r a g a in s t

Gr e e c e , a n d t h a t t h e Ma c e d o n ia n q u e s t io n h a d n e v e r b e e n a

s o ur c e o f t h e m is u n d e r s t a n d in g s w h ic h h a d a r is e n b e t w e e n t h e

t w o c o u n t r i e s s i n c e t h e w a r .

O n e is e n t it le d to· s a y t h a t i f G r e e k s la n d e r s o f B u l g a r ia h a v et o r e s o r t t o s u c h “ p r o o fs ” o f t h e B u l g a r i a n G o v e r n m e n t ’s a gg r e s

s iv e a t t it u d e t o w a r d s Gr e e c e a s t h e a bo ve - q uo te d d o c u m e n t , itc a n o n ly p r o v e t h e u t t e r gr o u nd le s s n e s s a n d a b s u r d i ty o f t h e

a c c u s a t i o n s c o n c o c t e d a g a i n s t t h e B u l g a r i a n G o v e r n m e n t .

7, Ag g r e s s iv e P l a n s o f T s a ld a r i s a n d Co m p a n y



fe r e n c e , w h e r e M r . T s a ld a r is d e m a n d e d t he a n n e x a t io n to G r e e c eo f a lm o s t o n e q u a r t e r o f B u l g a r ia n t e r r i to r y b y w a y o f a f r o n t i e rre c t i f i c a t i on , a s he c a l l e d i t . Ac c ord ing to t h i s Gre e k c l a im, t heB u l g a r i a n fr o n t ie r , s h o u l d r u n w i t h in o n l y 35 k ilo m e t r e s o f P l o v d i v , t h e s e c o nd m o s t im p o r t a n t B u lg a r i a n t o w n , a n d w i t h in 95

k i l o m e t r e s o f S o f ia , t h e c a p i ta l. T h is is w h a t M r . T s a ld a r is c a lle da f ron t i e r r e c t i f i c a t i on . I f t h i s i s no t a ggre s s ion , t he n a l l I c a n

s a y is t h a t w e h a v e d ia m e t r i c a lly o p p o s e d c o n c e p ts o f a g g r e s s i ona n d n o n- a g gr e s s io n.

B y d e m a n d i n g s u c h a “ f r o n t i e r r e c t i f i c a t i o n , ” t h e T s a l d a r i sG o v e r n m e n t i s e a g e r l y s t r e t c h i n g o u t i t s h a n d s t o w a r d s o t h e r

p e o p l e ’s .l a n d . H i s G o v e r n m e n t s e e k s t o c o m e a s c lo s e t o t h eh e a r t o f B u l g a r i a a s p o s s i b l e . I n t h i s a t t e m p t i t i s s u p p o r t e d b y

c e r t a i n i n f l u e n t i a l i n t e r n a t i o n a l f o r c e s . E x p l o i t i n g t h e s i t u a t i o na t th e P a r i s P e a c e C o nfe r e n c e , t h e T s a ld a r is G o v e r n m e n t t h o u g h tit w a s w o r t h t r y i n g to t e a r E p ir u s a w a y f r o m A lb a n i a , a n d

f r o m B u l g a r ia t h e v a lle y lo c a t e d t o th e n o r t h b e y o n d t h eR h o d o p e M o u n t a i n s d e e p i n th e B u l g a r ia n in t e r i o r .

I t is w o r t h r e c a llin g t h a t t h e G r e e k G o v e r n m e n t ’s t e r r i t o r i a l

c la im s a g a i n s t B u l g a r ia w e r e n o t r e s t r ic t e d t o t h e s p e e ch e s a n dp a m p h l e t s a b u n d a n t ly p r o d u c e d b y th e Gr e e k s , b u t a s s u m e d

q u i te c o nc r e t e a n d p r a c t ic a l fo r m s . T h i n g s w e n t s o fa r t h a t t h eC o m m i t t e e f o r B u l g a r i a a c c e p t e d t h e s e c l a i m s o f T s a l d a r i s a n d

c o m p a n y f o r c o n s i d e r a t io n in P a r is . M o r e o v e r , t h e y p u t t h eis s u e t o t h e v o te . T h e m a jo r it y o f th e C o m m i tt e e r e j e c t e d t he

T s a l d a r is c la im s , w h i c h w e r e s u p p o r t e d b y t h e U n i o n o f S o u t hA f r i c a a lo n e , t he , d e le g a t e s o f t h r e e c o u n t r ie s — in c l u d i n g B r it a in

•— t im id ly a b s t a in ing .N o t e w o r t h y w a s M r . T s a l d a r is ’ s p e e c h in S a l o n ik a o n J u n e 10,

19 46 ; “ O u r n a t io n a l c l a im s , ” h e s a id , “ a r e n o t r e s t r i c t e d t o t e r r i

t o r i e s r e c o g n i s e d i n i n t e r n a t i o n a l d o c u m e n t s , a s w e l l a s f r o mh is t o r ic a l a n d le g a l v ie w p o i n t s a s b e l o n g i n g to G r e e c e . O u rr i g h t s t o t he s e t e r r i to r i e s a r e c le a r ' t o a ll. T h e D o d e c a n e s e A r c h i

p e la g o , N o r t h e r n E p i r u s a r id t h e s e c u r i ty o f o u r f r o n t ie r s c a n n o ts a t is f y u s . T h e r e a r e o t h e r G r e e k t e r r i to r ie s w h ic h a r e in d i s p u t a b l y G r e e k , s it u a t e d i n t h e s o u t h a n d in t h e n o r t h . O u r c la im sb e g i n i n t h e n o r t h a n d a r e a i m e d a t a c c o m p l i s h i n g t h e c r e a t i o n

o f o u r n a t i o n a l S t a t e a n d a t t h e s o l u t io n o f t h e p r o b l e m o f l iv i n gsp ace . . . .” (see ne w s pa pe r “To Fos ” of Ju n e 12, 1946) . T hisr e f e r e n c e t o l iv i n g s p ac e b r in g s t o m e m o r y t h e n o t o r io u s s pe e ch e so f t h o s e o t h e r s e e k e r s a f t e r “ l i v i n g s p a c e ” w h o , t h r o u g h o u r

j o i n t e f f o r t s , w e r e d e s p a t c h e d t o t h a t l i v i n g s p a c e w h i c h h a sn o b o u n d s a n d w h i c h is c a lle d a b e t t e r w o r l d .

A d d r e s s in g t h e At h e n s P a r lia m e n t o n J u n e 24, 1946, a m e m b e r

o f t h e G r e e k P a r l i a m e n t , M r . D i a k o v u sa id : “ I t oo have ap l a n f o r f r o n t ie r r e c t ific a t io n . I a m s u b m it t in g m y p r o je c t t o t h e

S p e a k e r t o h a v e it p u t o n P a r lia m e n t a r y r e c o r d . O u r f r o n t ie r

m u s t b e g i n fr o m t h e Is m i Riv e r e s t u a r y o n th e A d r i a t ic , r u na lo n g t h e w a t e r s h e d o f t h e S a r p la n i M o u n t a in s a n d in c lu d e t he

43



Riv e r s V a r d a r a n d O r v ilo n in t h e We s t . F r o m t h e r e t h e fr o n t ie rm u s t fo llo w t h e R iv e r S t r u m a u p t o t h e r a ilw a y ju n c t io n o f

K a t e r i n o v o . F r o m h e r e it m u s t go a lo n g t h e S k o m io k r id g e t o w a r d s t h e T a d ja n m o u n t a in p as s a n d h e ig h t N o. 1573 o f t h e

B a lk a n r id g e , a lo n g w h ic h i t m u s t r e a c h t h e B la c k S e a s h o r e int h e a r e a o f t h e v illa g e s o f Re t o s , P i r t o s a n d A n c h ila o s . ”

( M in u t e s o f t h e 2 1s t m e e t in g o f t h e C o m m i s s io n , P a g e 4 .)

N o w , w ill t h e m a j o r it y o f t h e C o m m is s io n b e s o k in d a s t o .

p r o n o u n c e it s o p in io n o n th e s e in s a n e e x p a n s io n is t p la n s o f Gr e e c e , in s t e a d o f s h y ly p a s s in g o v e r s u c h f a c t s in s ile n c e , a n d

p r e fe r r in g t o m a k e u n fo u n d e d a c c u s a t io n s a g a in s t Gr e e c e ’s

n o r t h e r n n e i g h b o u r s , in s t e a d o f c h a r g i n g Gr e e c e h e r s e lf?

A n d w h a t o f t h e G r e e k p re s s ? N a t u r a lly , it d oe s n o t la g b e h in d

T s a ld a r i s a n d c o m p a n y , of w h i c h o ne c o u ld o ffe r a b u n d a n t e v i d e n ce . M a y i t als o be r e c a lle d t h a t d u r i n g t h e P a r i s C o n fe r e n c e

in J u n e , 1946, T s a ld a r is s u g g e s t e d t o t h e Y u g o s la v d e le g a t e s ,D r . B e b le r a n d , M r . V ilfa n , t h a t A lb a n ia s h o u l d be d i v id e d b e

t w e e n Gr e e c e a n d Yu g o s la v i a . T h e s e a r e t e llin g p r o o fs o f t h eG r e e k G o v e r n m e n t ’s c o n s t a n t in t r ig u e s a g a in s t Yu g o s la v ia , B u l

g a r ia a n d A lb a n i a , in t r ig u e s w h ic h r e a lly e n d a n g e r t h e t e r r i t o r i a l in t e g r it y o f G r e e c e ’s n o r t h e r n n e ig h b o u r s :

I t w a s o b v io u s l y n o a c c id e n t t h a t t h e A m e r ic a n d e le g a t e , M r .

J o h n s o n , h a d n o t o n e s i n g l e w o r d t o p r o v e t h e e x i s t e n c e o f t h ea lle g e d d a n g e r to t h e t e r r it o r ia l in t e g r it y o f Gr e e c e f r o m Yu g o s la v i a a n d B u lg a r i a — a n a lle g a t io n c o nc o c te d fo r v e r y s p e c ia l

p u r po s e s . B u t t h is is n o t s u r p r is in g , fo r in v ie w o f th e a b u n d a n c e

o f fr a u d , fo r g e r y a n d u n d e r h a n d t r ic k s in , t h e d o c u m e n t s p r e

s e n t e d b y t h e G r e e k s id e , a s w e h a v e ju s t s e e n , it is d i ffic u lt t o

d e f e n d t h e p o s i t io n t a k e n o n t h is is s u e b y t h e A m e r ic a n d e le g a

t io n . T h a t is w h y t h e A m e r ic a n d e le g a t e t h o u g h t it b e t t e r t o

p a s s o v e r th is p o in t i n s ile n c e .

8. Ex to r t ion o f Fa l s e T e s t im on ie s

M e n t i o n s h o u l d a l s o b e m a d e o f t h o s e w i t n e s s e s w h o s e t e s t i m o n ie s w e r e u s e d b y s ix m e m b e r s o f t h e C o m m is s io n in a n e f fo r t

t o s u b s t a n t ia t e t h e ir c o n c lu s io n s a n d d e lib e r a t io n s . H a v i n g e n

d o r s e d t h e c h ar g e s a g a in s t Yu g o s la v ia a n d B u lg a r ia t o t h e e ffe c t

t h a t t h e y w e r e t h r e a t e n in g t h e t e r r i t o r ia l in t e g r it y o f Gr e e c e ,

t he s e m e m b e r s o f t h e C o m m is s io n r e f e r r e d t o t h e t e s t im o n ie s o f

c e r t a in w it ne s s e s .W h o a r e th e s e w it ne s s e s a n d h o w t r u s t w o r t h y a r e t h e ir te s t im o n ie s ? T h a t is t h e im p o r t a n t t h in g . A m o n g t h e m w a s , fo r in

s t a nc e s u c h a m a n a s V e l ia n id is w h o m w e c a n s u m u p p r e t t y



o th e r e v id e n c e c o n c e r n in g t h e M a c e d o n ia n o r g a n is a t io n o f t h

N a t i o n a l F r o n t o f L i b e r a t i o n .A n o t h e r w i t n e s s t e s t i f y i n g o n t h e s a m e p o i n t w a s B a l t a d o r o

w h o de c la r e d he h a d t a k e n p a r t in t h e M a c e d o n ia n m o v e m e n

a n d h a d a c t e d u n d e r in s t r u c t io n s t o fig h t f o r t h e u n if ic a t io n oM a c e d o n i a i n t o a s i n g l e w h o l e a n d f o r h e r i n c o r p o r a t i o n i n tt h e Yu g o s la v S t a t e . B u t it w a s o n t h e m o s t im p o r t a n t p o in

n a m e ly th e c o n ne c t io n be t w e e n th e Yu g o s la v G o v e r n m e n t a n

t he M a c e d o n ia n N a t io n a l F r o n t o f L ib e r a t io n , t h a t t h e t e s t im o n

o f t h a t w it n e s s w a s c o n fu s e d . No w , t h a t w it ne s s h a d b e e n s e

t e n c e d t o d e a t h ' b y t h e G r e e k a u t h o r it ie s a n d , a s a t t e s t e d bt w o o t he r w it ne s s e s , Ze r v a s a n d P a t is , h a d b e e n b e a t e n a n

t o r t u r e d , a n d s u b s e q u e n t ly g a v e f a ls e . e v id e n c e s o as t o s a v

h is life . B a lt a d o r o s h im s e lf c on fe s s e d he h a d b e e n b a d ly b e a t ew h e n th e G r e e k p o lic e s e ize d h im .

Wit n e s s T s a us s is b e g a n b y t e s t ify in g a g a in s t t h e N a t io nF r o n t o f L ib e r a t io n , b u t la t e r c o nfe s s e d h e h a d le a r n e d a b o u

t h is o r g a n is a t io n o n ly a s h o r t w h ile b e fo r e f r o m a n o t h e r w it ne s

T s e t e r o k lis , w h o w a s in t e r r o g a t e d th r e e t im e s a n d g a v e u t t e r l

c o n t r a d ic t o r y t e s t im o n ie s . S e v e r a l o t h e r w it ne s s e s n o m in a t e d bt he Gr e e k G o v e r n m e n t , n a m e ly P a p a t o uk a s , Ma n s o u r a k e s a n

o th e r s , t e s t ifie d t h a t t h e y k n e w n o t h in g a t a ll a b o u t th e M a c ed o n ia n q u e s t io n .

T h e t e s t im o n ie s c o n c e r n in g th e N a t io n a l F r o n t o f L ib e r a t ioa r e , in g e n e r a l, u t t e r ly c o n fu s e d . T h e y fr e q u e n t ly c o n fu s e t h

N a t io n a l F r o n t o f L ib e r a t io n w it h t h e R e fu g e e s ’ C o m m it t e e su p a t B it o l j t o a s s is t G r e e k r e f ug e e s in Yu g o s la v ia , w h o s e n u m

b e r e x c e e d s 20 ,000 . T h e w it n e s s A t h a n a s s o v , w h o t e s t ifie d a t t h7 1s t s it t in g o f th e C o m m is s io n d e c la r e d h e k n e w n o t h in g a b o u

t h e e x is t e n c e ' o i t h e M a c e d o n ia n N a t io n a l F r o n t o f L ib e r a t io n i

Yu g o s la v ia : a ll h e c o u ld s a y w a s t h a t th e N a t io n a l F r o n t oL ib e r a t io n h a d b e e n o r g a n is e d in Gr e e c e in 1943 t o f ig h t t hG e r m a n i n v a d e r s .

T h e C o m m is s io n ’s r e c o r ds a ls o r e fe r r e d to th e a n t i- Gr e ea c t iv it ie s o f t h e s o - c alle d A e g e a n B u r e a u . N e v e r t he le s s s e v e rw it ne s s e s s u m m o n e d b y t h e C o m m is s io n t o t e s t ify o n t h is p o in

d e n ie d t h e r e h a d e v e r be e n a n y s u c h b u r e a u . T h u s , w it ne sK a r a n je v s k i, a l le g e d to h a v e b e e n t h e h e a d o f t he A e g e a

B u r e a u i n S k o p l j e , w h o w a s s u m m o n e d o n t h e i n i t i a t i v e o f t h

G r e e k G o v e r n m e n t , d e c la r e d h e h a d n e v e r b e e n in c h a r g e ot h a t b u r e a u a n d h a d n e v e r he a r d a n y t h in g a b o u t it . K a r a n je v s kis o n ly a b o u t 20 y e a r s o ld . A s k e d w h e t h e r h e h a d e v e r h e a r



s a t io n t o d ir e c t a n a u t o n o m is t M a c e d o n i a n m o v e m e n t . T h e r e a r e

n o t r u s t w o r t h y w it ne s s e s a n d n o d o c u m e n ts t h a t c o u ld p r o v id e

g r o u n d s f o r s u c h a s s e r t i o n s .

T h e t e s t i m o n i e s f u r n i s h e d b y s o m e w i t n e s s e s w e r e s o p r o f o u n d ly s u s p ic io us t h a t e v e n M r . U r r it ia ( C o lo m b ia ) , C h a ir m a n

o f t h e C o m m is s io n , w h e n d e a lin g w it h w it n e s s B o b ts is , w a so b l i g e d t o d e c l a r e : “ I t i s u t t e r l y u s e l e s s t o l i s t e n t o h i m , a s w e

c a n a ll s e e , a n d a s is p e r f e c t ly o b v i o us . A t f ir s t t h is w i t ne s s g a v e

o n e te s t im o n y , t h e n h e g iv e s a n a b s o lu t e l y d iffe r e n t on e . C e r t a in

d e le g a t e s b e l ie v e h e is g iv in g f a l s e t e s t im o n y . O t h e r d e le g a t e s

s a y h e d o e s n o t i n t e r e s t t h e m a t a l l s i n c e h i s t e s t i m o n i e s a r e o f

n o v a lu e . ” _( M in u t e s o f t h e 5 7 t h s it t in g o f t h e C o m m i s s io n ,

P a g e 12 .) Ye t t he s e te s t im o n ie s w e r e in c lu d e d in t h e r e p o r t , a n d

n o w t h e y a r e b e in g u t ilis e d b y t h o s e w h o s a y “ it is ' p r o v e d ”

w it h o u t t e llin g u s h o w i t w a s p r o v e d , a n d b y w h o m . W a s i tp r o v e d b y m e n l i k e B o b t s i s ?

N o w , t h is m a n B o b ts is h a d p r e v io u s l y b e e n s e n t e n c e d to d e a t h

b y t h e G r e e k a u t h o r it ie s , a n d in. t e s t ify in g b e fo r e t h e C o m m is

s i o n h e w a s o b v i o u s l y s a v i n g h i s l i f e .

A n o t h e r t h in g is q u it e in d i s p u t a b le — t h a t th e F a s c is t o r g a n i

s a t io n V M R O , w h i c h o p e r a t e d o p e n ly d u r in g G e r m a n r u le ,

w a s o p e r a t in g u n d e r g r o u n d a f t e r th e G e r m a n s ’ d e fe a t . A t t h et r ia l h e ld in S k o p lje i n F e b r u a r y , 1 947, it w a s e s t a b lis h e d t h a t

t h is F a s c i s t a u t o n o m is t M a c e d o n i a n o r g a n is a t io n , V M R O , w a s

h e a d e d b y V a n c h o M ic h a i lo f f, o n e o f P a v e lic h ’s c o l la b o r a t o r s . A tt h a t t r i a l it w a s a ls o e s t a b lis h e d t h a t V M R O m a in t a in e d c pn-

t a c t w it h r e a c t io n a r y q u a r t e r s in G r e e c e . W it n e s s T r e n c e ff, w h o

w a s c o n d e m n e d a t th e V M R O t r ia l a n d w a s in t e r r o g a t e d o n t h e

s u g g e s t io n o f t h e A m e r i c a n d e le g a t e a t t he ' C o m m i s s io n ’s 7 1s t

s it t in g in B e lg r a d e , t e s t ifie d a s f o llo w s : “ V M R O w a s f o u n d e d

in 1941 . I t was headed by Vancho Micha i l o f f . . . O the r ch i e f s

in c lu d e d K o s t a T e r zie ff, w h o s u g ge s t e d t h a t I s h o u ld fo r m d e

t a c h m e n t s a n d e s t a b lis h c o n ta c t w it h th e a r m y in G re e c e a n d

t h e o p p o s it io n in B u l g a r i a . . . T h e s e d e t a c h m e n t s w e r e s e n t t oYu g o s la v i a , fo u g h t a g a in s t t h e e x is t in g r e g im e t h e r e a n d h a d a st h e ir o b je c t iv e t h e e s t a b lis h m e n t o f a n a u t o n o m o u s M a c e d o n ia

u n d e r t h e a e g is o f t h e B r it is h a n d A m e r ic a n s .”

T h is a ls o g oe s to p r o v e h o w a b s u r d a r e t h e a lle g a t io n s t h a t

Yu g o s la v ia is u p h o ld in g o r f o m e n t in g t h e a u t o n o m is t M a c e

d o n ia n m o v e m e n t . S u c h a n a lle g a t io n m u s t b e r e je c t e d , s in c e it

d o e s n o t h o l d w a t e r .

G e n e r a lly s p e a k in g , t h e C o m m is s io n w a s r a t h e r u n lu c k y a s

r e g a r ds w it ne s s e s . M a n y s p e a ke r s h e r e h a v e a lr e a d y m e n t io n e d

t h i s f a c t , s o t h e r e i s n o n e e d t o d w e l l o n i t . M a y I r e f e r t o t h es t r ik in g in s t a n c e o f fa ls e t e s t im o n y g iv e n b y K o n t o p a n o s , w h o

w a s n o m in a t e d b y t he Gr e e k G o v e r n m e n t . In h is w r it t e n s t a te



a lo n g th e Da lma t i a n c o a s t l i n e to wa rd s th e A lb a n ia n f ro n t i e r . ”(Gre ek White Pape r , page 61 .)

Th is s ta te me nt is abs urd and exposes it s a u thor as a fa lse w i t ness , because tha t ra i lway l ine , which i s loca ted in the in te r io rof Yugoslavia and is of local economic s ignif icance, was shif tedin the im ag ina t ion o f th is fa l se wi tnes s to Da lma t ia and as sumeda d i rec t ion d iametr ica l ly oppos i te to the ac tua l one . Th is was

done wi th the obv ious purpose o f p rov ing tha t Greece was avic t im of aggression.

In the same wi tnes s ’s te s t imony , recorded in the s ame docu- .me nt (page 74) , we read a bou t some my th ica l gue r i lla schoolin Bulkes , “where spec ia l a t ten t ion was devo ted to t ra in ing inmounta in war fa re .” “This t ra in ing ,” we a re to ld , “p roceededboth ins ide the v i llage o f Bulkes and in it s v ic in it ie s . ” Ye t i t wa seasy to f ind ou t tha t th i s v i l lage i s s i tua ted in Backha , in thearea o f Pannon P la in , wi thou t any e leva t ions f rom one hor izonto the o ther , wi th whea t f ie lds and maize p lan ta t ions s t re tch ingfor hundreds o f k i lometres ! Indeed , one mus t have a ve ry f ie ry

ima g in a t io n a n d l a c k o f s c ru p le t o c la im th a t “ mo u n ta in w a r fa r e ” t r a in ing cou ld be ca r r ied ou t in the v i llage o f Bulkes and it sv ic in i t ie s . I t may a lso be ment ioned tha t th i s wi tness , Konto-panos- Annivas ,was exposed by h is ow n bro the r as a p rovoca teur .

We a re we ll awa re how these so - called witnesses were p re p a re d , a f t e r t h e y h a d f a ile d to e n d u re th e b e a t in g s a n d to r tur e sb y me a n s o f wh ic h th e y we re fo r c e d to p l e a d g u i l t y t o n o n ex is te n t gu ilt , and consen t to te s t i fy to eve ry th ing the y were to ldb y th e to r tur e r s .

Th is is borne ou t by a t rag ic le t te r f rom Lt . Mana v is , sen t f roma Gree k p r i son a nd pub lish e d in the ne ws pape r “Agonis t is ” inSa lonika on Mar ch 11, 1947. He was se ntenced to de ath by the

Gre e k a u th o r it ie s in J a n it s a . L a te r h e wa s p a rd o n e d , a n d is n o win Yedi- Kule gaol. This is w ha t the le t te r1said:

“In the evening the same off icer (of the In te l l igence Sect ionof the 556 th Ba t ta lion in ' Jan i t s a ) o rdered Kosm Pas t rum ar is ,who was under a dea th sen tence , to be b rough t , and po in t ing h im ou t to the o ther conde mned so ld ie rs , am ong the mTser t sos and o thers who were t r ied toge ther wi th Ba l tadoros ,sa id: ‘This ma n and the other f ive in h is cel l w ill be exe cuted to mor row mo rn ing fo r re fusa l to tes t ify .’ (By th is he h in te d th a twe had re fused to g ive fa l se tes t imony to the e f fec t tha t the rewere Co mm unis t so ld ie rs in our un it , th a t we ma in ta ine d con

nec t ions wi th po l i t ica l o rgan isa t ions and guer i l la s and tha t wewere s ee k ing au tonom y fo r Mace donia .) I w an t to s tress he re tha tthe mos t hor r ib le to r tu res were employed to compel us to g ivetes t imony a t the p r e l iminar y inves t iga t ions , a nd the r e fo re someso ld ie r s h a d to s ig n s t a t e me n ts w i th o u t e v e n u n d e r s t a n d in g wh a tthey were s ign ing .”

“T h e c o n d e mn e d me n wh o m I h a v e me n t io n e d a b o v e ” (M a n avis c i ted the names of Kanal id is , Tser tsos , and Michai l id is)

47



“ to ld me tha t the y w ould have , to d ie because they re fuse d tos ubm it to press ure , as Baltadoros s ubmit ted , who gave fa lsetes t imony tha t guer i l l as moved f rom Greece to Yugos lav ia andf rom Yugos lav ia to Greece . T wo days l a te r those men w e re shot,whereas Bal tadoros is a l ive to this day . . .

One could c i te numerous cases of fa lse tes t imony given as are su lt o f the coerc ion and bea t ings pra c t is ed by the Gree k a u tho r i t i es , which forced wi tnesses to t es t i fy whatever su i ted theseauthor it ie s . T hat , for ins tance , was how the y obta ine d te s t imonyf rom wi tness Pa t i s , who a l so conf i rmed tha t every par t i c ipantin t he r e s i s t ance movement was ru th l e s s ly bea t en dur ing in t e r roga t ions . T ha t was how the y obta ined tes t imonies f ro m Zachos ,Bal tadoros , Gats ios , Ekonomov, Serbakov and others .

Seve ra l impor t an t wi tnes ses were i n t roduced to t he Commis

s ion a f t e r t he sword o f dea th had been suspended ove r t he i rheads . And these men gave t e s t imon ies unde r t h r ea t o f t he im pending dea th sen tence . Here i s the t es t imony of the above-ment ioned Bal tadoros , one of the mos t impor tan t wi tnessesprocured by the Greek Government . The minutes of the 36ths it t ing of the Commiss ion co ntained the follow ing re cord of thein te r roga t ion of Bal tadoros by a member of the Commiss ion ,Co lo n e l Ke r e n k i:

Quest ion: “Were you condemned alone, or was a group of men condemned s imul t aneous ly wi th you?”

Answer : “Ano the r fou r men were condemned wi th me .”Ques t ion: “Wh a t we re the ir sen tences?”Answer : “They were a l l sen tenced to dea th .”Ques t ion: “Where then a re the o ther four men who were sen

t enced to de a th?”Answe r : “T hey have a lr e ady been e xecu ted .”Ques t ion: “Could you e xp la in why those four men, your com

rades , were executed whi le you are s t i l l a l ive?”Answer: “I could not explain this , but I th ink I was lef t a l ive

so th a t I could come here an d prove the gu ilt of our neighbours .I t seems to me tha t members of the Commiss ion do not want toknow the fac t s re la t ing to the condi t ions under which I l ived .”

These documents a re l iv ing pages of a t rag e dy tha t involves notonly the miserable men doomed to dea th because they defendedthe i r honour and the d igni ty of pa t r io t s . These documents a repages f rom the t r age dy of Greece , of the Gre ek n a t ion now s uffo ca t ing in t he g r ip o f t he t y r a nny r a mp an t in Greece .

9. Ou r Conc lus ionsThe Sovie t de lega t ion has thoroughly examined and ana lysed

a l l the mos t impor tan t da ta re la t ing to the work of the Commis i f i t i t i i id t th G k f t i St b



Assembly.We are convinced, and th is convict ion is based on a f i rm

foundat ion—facts , more facts and again facts . I t is facts thatre fu te the acc usa t ions ' p re fe r r ed aga ins t Yugos lav ia , Bu lgar iaand Alban ia , i t i s fac ts tha t te s t i fy to the un jus t and a r t i f ic ia lcharac te r o f the c la ims on the th ree nor thern ne ighbours o f Greece.

Fur thermore , these fac ts leave no doub t tha t the en t i re gu i l tand respons ib i l i ty fo r these deve lopments mus t res t wi th theGree k Governm e nt and the Governments o f those coun t r ieswhich, through their in terference in the domest ic affa irs of theGreek peop le , th rough the i r suppor t o f reac t ionary an t i democrat ic forces ins ide Greece, are seeking to exploi t the pre se n t s itua t ion fo r the ir ex pans ion is t ends .

The Soviet delegat ion proposes , therefore , that the draf t reso lu t ion submi t ted by the Uni ted S ta tes o f Amer ica and ce r ta inother delegat ions be re jected, as based on fa lse data not corres ponding to the facts ; i ts acceptance, far f rom helping to solveour tas k , would only complicate its s olut ion an d w ould cons t itu te

a fre sh ac t o f b la tan t in jus t ice towar ds Yugos lav ia , Bu lgar ia andAlban ia , a new b ar r ie r to the es tab lishme nt of co- opera t ion be tween these th ree coun t r ies and Greece , to the es tab l i shment o f peace and the securi ty of nat ions .

I have to make a b r ie f comment on Mr . Johnson’s s ta tementto the effect that the United Sta tes wil l not pers is t in i ts accusa t ions against Yugoslavia , Bulgar ia and Albania , provided theyagree to an obser va t ion commiss ion . Mr . Johns on p rese n tedthis as a desire to f ind a “middle course” towards the se t t lementof the Balkan quest ion. Can we accept th is a t i ts face value? Wea l l r e me mb e r th a t f o r ma n y mo n th s th e Un i t e d S ta t e s r e p re se nta t ives fexerted every effor t to have Yugos lavia , Bulga r ia and

Alban ia accused o f a l l mor ta l s ins , and dem ande d tha t Ar t ic le 7of the Char te r be app l ied aga ins t them. We remember on ly toowe ll a ll the hue and c ry - they ra ise d . We re membe r tha t fo rma n y mo n th s it wa s the t a lk o f t h e to wn in Ne w Yo rk t h a t t h enorthern neighbours of Greece were up to a l l k inds of th ings .F ie r ce c lashes over the Gre ek ques t ion con t inued in the P o l it ica lCommit tee fo r two whole weeks , and now sudden ly the Uni tedStates of America declares i t wil l not pers is t in i ts accusat ions ,provided Greece’s neighbours agree to the ins t i tu t ion of anobservat ion commission.

What i s the mat te r? What does th i s swee t d ream mean? I s

i t not c lear that the idea was not to f ind a “middle course” to wards the se t t lement o f the Ba lkan ques t ion , as Mr . Johnsonassures us? What i t does mean—and th is conclusion is perfect lylogical and correct—is that the United Sta tes i tse lf does not be lie ve in its o wn patc hwo rk accusat ions . Since i t has become cleartha t a l l th is f rame- up is doomed to collapse , s ince i t has becomeever c lea re r - that the Ame r ican , Br i t is h and Gree k wolves a re

49



no t go ing t o be ha r med by anyone ( t hough t hey a r e capab l e o f doing a bi t of h a r m on the ir ow n account , as the saying ' goes ), ithas become necessary rap id ly to change t ac t i cs and look aroundfor some “middle course.”

T hen and the re t ha t M. Spa ak , Mr . Joh ns on ’s source of ins p ir a t ion and one of the champions of th i s var ie ty of d ip lomat icgame, appears on the s t age . Mr . Johnson accompanied h i s s t a te me n t by a wa r n ing t ha t s ounded like a t h r ea t .

Now Mes s r s . Spaak- Johns on o ffe r us a b a r g a in : you ag r ee toa commiss ion, and we wi l l renounce our accusat ions . Pay on thenai l , and every th ing wi l l be square . Thi s proposa l for a barga incan only serve to r eveal the r ea l asp i ra t ions of i t s au thors . Welearn tha t they were not concerned wi th any v io la t ion of in ter na t ional l aw: what they were af t e r was a commiss ion , and such

a commiss ion has to be es tabl ished at any cos t . That i s theques t ion . Al l the y have to secure is the e s ta b lish me nt of a commiss ion, and the commiss ion i t sel f wi l l take care of the res t .

Such is the or igin, such is the explanat ion, of this “middlecourse .” But h a ving t a ke n th is course and consented to r enounceit s own accusa t ions , the U.S .A. ha s de mons t ra te d for the w or ldto see tha t a ll thes e accusa t ions are no t wor th a fa r th ing , andtha t t he who le fr ame- up was needed fo r o the r ends which havenoth ing in common wi th the es tab l i shment of the t ru th , on lythe t r u th and no th ing bu t t he t r u th .

But no , i t i s h igh t ime to unders tand tha t our ch i ldhood haslong s ince passed. I t i s high t ime to give up this nursery game.I t i s h igh t ime t o under s t and t ha t you canno t make eve r y th ingthe objec t of a barga in . There are mora l va lues , about whicheve n the s ugges t ion of a bar ga in or de al is like a w hip las h. An dthe a t t e mpts to pres ent th is propo sa l as r e fe r r ing to the fu tur eins t ea d o f t he pas t w ill change no th ing in it s s um and s ubs t ance .No, s i r s , i t i s not only the future but the pas t that i s involved.Moreover , a due appraisal of the pas t i s bound to af fect the

fu ture , and to a cons iderable ex tent .Tru th and honour cannot be d iv ided in to pas t , p resent and

f u tu r e , a s ve r bs a r e d iv ided i n g r ammar . T r u th mus t t r i umph ,and i t w ill t r ium ph whe the r or not i t is to the lik ing of me n wh odr e am of r educing the Uni te d Nat ions Organ is a t ion to a tool forthe ir own schemes

Such is the Soviet s tand in regard to this ques t ion. The Sovietde legat ion i s convinced tha t the one and only cor rec t and jus tso lu t ion of th is pro ble m is the imm e dia te w ithd ra w al f romGree ce of fore ign t roops , as we ll as . eve ry kind of m i lita r y an dc ivi lian ins t ruc tor a nd so- called ex pe r t ; it lies in gr an t ing theGreek people an oppor tuni ty of se t t l ing the i r own af fa i r s onthe bas is of the pr inciple s "of democ racy, in the ir e s tab lis hing



IV

A . Y. V Y S H IN S K Y R E P L IE S IN T H E DISCUSSION O N T H E

D R AF T R E S O L U T IO N S ON G R E E C E , M A D E AT P O L IT S C A L

C O M M I T T E E , O C T O B E R 8, 19 47

On October 8 the Political Committee of UNO General Assembly began consideration of draft resolutions on the Greek question. The meeting opened wilh the U.S.A. delegate, Mr. Johnson, demanding from the Yugoslav, Bulgarian and Albanian representatives un-conditional assent to the establishment of a commission, in which case he expressed willingness' to withdra w his charges against those countries. If they refused, Mr. Johnson threatened, the U.S.A.. would insist on pressing these accusations.

The French delegate, M. Delbos, urged acceptance of the American demand.

A.. Y. Vyshinsky then spoke on behalf of the Soviet delegation.

Wha t is now go ing on here is w i thou t p receden t . In m y bas icspeech devoted to the Greek quest ion I sa id that the solut ion

sugges ted by the Amer ican represen ta t ive represen ted a dea l ,a p iece o f ba r ga in ing . I canno t agree w i th the Fre nch repres en ta t ive tha t i t is “a nob le t rans ac t ion .” No ma t te r wh a t you ca l l it ,i t remains what i t is—a deal , a p iece of bargaining.

To- day the Ame r ican de lega te has re pea ted h is d em and in theform of an u l t imatum. “Accep t our commiss ion and we sha l lwithdraw the accusat ions .” This is without precedent . Neveranywhere has any commission, any committee , any inst i tu t ionor a ny court , bee n faced w ith such an a l ter nat ive . This is hum ili a t ing, th is is undignif ied . I ca l l your a t tent ion to the fact thatthe Amer ican de lega tes have made severa l new s teps a long theroad they have chosen. Several days ago they said that a com

promise fo rmula migh t be sugges ted under ce r ta in cond i t ions .Now they no longer speak abou t a p robab le p roposa l bu t abou ta ca tegor ica l demand . Now they a l ready p resen t te rms , andpropose to move one re so lut ion o r ano ther depe nd ing on whe theror no t these te rms a re accep ted .

What g rounds have they to pu t the ques t ion in th i s manner?Is th i s way o f pu t t ing ques t ions jus t i f ied by the Char te r o r bythe ru les o f p rocedure? Where have you ever heard a ques t ionbe ing pu t in such a manne r : Consen t to our re so lu t ion in ad vance and then we shal l move i t?

I have a l ready had occas ion to remark tha t peop le in the

Committee “put the car t before the Korse .” I t is now perfect lyobv ious tha t the Amer ican de lega t ion wants to compel theCommittee to act in precisely th is fashion. I f previously theybrought p ressure to bear on the represen ta t ives o f th ree coun t r ies , namely Yugos lav ia , Bu lgar ia and Alban ia , they a re nowbr ing ing p ressure to bear on a l l o f us , members o f the Com mit tee . Now we have a l l been pres en ted w i th an u l t ima tum . For it iswe, and not Bulgar ia and Albania , that wil l have to vote . In

51



o the r words , we a re p resen ted wi th the dem and : You mus t vo tethe way i t su i t s us , o r e lse we shal l d ispose of th is mat ter aswe like . ■

This unprecedented quest ion ing of the Yugoslav , Bulgar ianand Alba n ian r e p rese n tat ives , s t aged by the Ame r ican de lega te ,

represen ts rude pressure . No jus t i f ica t ion for such ac t ions wi l lbe found e i ther in the Char ter o r in the ru les of p rocedure ; norwi l l i t be found in those good manners which i t i s h igh t imeto recal l in our organisat ion. I f you, Mr. Johnson, feel i t necessary to move a resolut ion, then be kind enough to do so. I t wil lbe pu t to the vote and mos t p roba b ly you w ill ge t a m a jo r i ty ,for the en t i re prac t ice of in terna t ional conferences of recentt imes p roves tha t y our vo t ing ma ch ine works . Bu t why , then ,do you ac t in so coward ly a manner , us ing every unscrupulousmethod to secure acceptance of a cer ta in pre l iminary condi t ion?

Why do you seek to in f luence and para lyse the wi l l o f o therdelegations?

The Sovie t de legat ion fee ls as hame d to ha ve to witness such aspectac le . I t would l ike to be l ieve tha t the major i ty of the de le ga t ions wi l l under s tand wha t d i sg race th i s ba rga in ing b r ingsupon them. The Sovie t de legat ion ca l l s upon a l l members of theCommit tee no t to embark on the pa th of bargain ing .

Where have you eve r hea rd tha t r e s o lu t ions shou ld be sub mi t t ed wi th p re l iminary cond i t ions? And wha t wou ld be thevalue of a reso lu t ion , acceptance of which was enforced by

means o f such a demand? At f i r s t the Amer ican de lega t ionformula te d accusa t ions aga ins t Yugos lav ia , Bulga r ia a ndAlban ia . La te r i t was p roved tha t these accusa t ions were un founded . Indeed , i t i s no t acc identa l tha t we have now beenpresen ted wi th th ree draf t reso lu t ions , none of which even ment ions any of the accusa t ions agains t Yugoslav ia , Bulgar ia andAlbania which formed the bas is for the conclus ions of thecommiss ion ’s m a jo r ity an d la te r on fo r the Ame r ican d r a f tresolution.

Why d id i t happen tha t th ree de legat ions deemed i t necessary

to sub mit these d ra f t res o lu t ions? I t has bee n done because the ysay t ha t the accusa t ions were so un founde d and g roundles s th a tthe i r consc ience d id no t a l low them to accept them. And nowthat the en t i re ed i f ice of the ind ic tment i s shaken to i t s founda t ion , the Ame r ica n de legat ion is be n ignly conse nt ing to wi thd ra wits accusa t ions , p rovide d Yugos lav ia , Bu lga r ia and Alba nia ac cep t a commiss ion the format ion of which has no t ye t beendecided upon. The quest ion of this commission must be decidedby us , 57 members of the commit tee and not by the de legat ionof the U.S.A. , un ila te ra lly , by w ay of a r r ange me nt and ba rg ain ing

wi th Bu lga r ia and Alban ia .Such a method of deciding the quest ion is inadmissible; le t the

Fre nch de lega t ion r e fr a in from re fe r r ing he re to the “Gree k h ” S h l d E i id d h d i h i



graves i f they had seen how the “chorus” i s be ing formed hereunder the ba ton of the U.S.A. ; and re ference to the “ law of thejungle” is l ikewise out of place. Nei ther Bulgar ia nor Albania

has any in ten t ion of making use of i t . The law of the jungle ,amended and toned down to a contemporary form, i s permi t tedhere in the c ommit te e by those w ho say: “Honour or lif e .” In

no o the r way ca n we e xp l a in the dema nds made by the Amer icandelega t ion on Bulgar ia , Albania and Yugos lavia .

The Sovie t Union cannot be a par ty to such bar te r or “ t rans ac t ions” , as the French de lega te has shameful ly expressedhimsel f . We have a draf t r eso lu t ion—put i t to the vote and dono t p r e sen t u s wi th your u l t ima tums . The demand o f t heAmer ican de lega t ion cont radic t s the Char te r of the Uni tedNat ions , cont rad ic t s i t s procedure , and we cannot agree to sucha procedure for vot ing.

Following the above statement, Mr. Johnson proposed, contrary tb generally accepted rules, that voting should take place on the U.S.A. resolution in a new way. First, several points from the middle of the resolution should be put to the vote, and voting on that section of the resolution which contained accusations against Greece’s northern neighbours should be postponed pending the receipt of replies from Bulgaria and Albania....In his second speech, Vyshinsky said that the voting procedure pro-posed by the American delegation utterly contradicted the existing rules of procedure. Points 73 and 74 of these rules provided for the voting on resolutions and not on their fragments.

The re may be four or twenty- four re so lut ions submi t ted .Rule 74 s ta tes c lear ly tha t reso lu t ions a re put to the vote andtha t on the reques t of one or another de lega t ion they may bevo ted on s e r i a t im . Bu t t ha t does no t a t a l l me an t ha t vo t ing maybe he ld on se para te por t ions of the re so lu t ion a rb it ra r i ly sna tchedout f rom i ts body. I f the Ame r ica n de lega t ion does not renouncethe f i rs t sect ion of i t s resolut ion, which contains unfoundedaccusa t ions aga ins t Yugos lavia , Bulgar ia and Albania , then th i ssec t ion has to be put to the vote fir s t , w i th the re s t fo llow ing inthe order of succession. Firs t things come f i rs t .

Vyshinsky proposed that the Committee should act in accordance with the rules of procedure: vote on the French amendment to the

American draft first, then the American draft seriatim and as a whole, then the Soviet draft resolution, and then all the rest in the order they were submitted.

M. Spaak again intervened. Admitting that the voting method sug-gested by the America n 'delegation was abnormal, he nevertheless demanded that the American proposal be accepted. “ We want a result and we do not care how we atta in it, ” he remarked.

Vyshinsky retorted:

M. Spaak agrees tha t the sugges ted method i s abnormal . Andthen we are to ld : yes tha t i s t rue , we cannot secure the des i reddec is ion by no r ma l me thods a nd fo r t h is r ea son we mus t r e so r t

53



t o an abnorm a l me thod . Bu t such a rgument s can be used whe n ever one wants to c i rcumvent the law and secure des i rable dec i s ions by means of v io la t ing es tabl i shed codes and ru les . Such aprac t ice i s dangerous . The Sovie t de lega t ion does not agree to

such a method. The Sovie t de lega t ion i s aga ins t such an unlawful pract ice .

Grossly violat ing the rules of procedure, the majority of the com-mittee decided to put the U.S.A. resolution to the.·vote in sections. Thirtyfour delegates voted for this procedure, six voted against and twelve abstained.

V

A . Y. V Y S H IN S K Y ’S S P E E C H O N T H E ACCUSATIONS

A G A IN S T Y U G O S L A V IA , B U L G A R I A AN D A L B A N IA ,

M AD E AT T H E P O L IT IC A L C O MM IT T E E , OCTOBER 11, 1947

Ira his speech at the Political Committee on October 1 1 , A. Y. Vyshinsky reminded the meeting that the Soviet Union would take no part in the work of the Balkan Commission which was being formed and that the vacant place left on it for the U.S.S.R. would not be occu-pied. He proceed to analyse the question of the American accusa-tions preferred against Yugoslavia, Bulgaria and Albania and of the interpretation of these accusations contained in the British and French amendments.

W E are w itnes s ing the unu s ua l des ire of the Anglo- French-American b loc to bes tow on Yugos lavia , Bulgar ia and

Alba nia forgivene ss of the . pas t on this score an d to te ll us theya re conce rned on ly wi th the fu tu re—such a fu tu re a s wou ldprov ide them wi th eve ry conven ience to implement t he funda men ta l s ec t ion o f t he Amer ican re so lu t ion dea l ing wi th theins t it u t ion o f a commiss ion which the Ame r ican pre s s ha s a l r eady f rank ly n i cknamed “ the wa tchdog in the Ba lkans . ” Ve rys t ra ight to the poin t , to be sure .

As regards the sum and subs tance of th i s problem, I be l ievetha t i t i s d i f fe rent f rom the way people here t ry to present i t .Mr. Johnson has dec la red tha t a major i ty of the commiss ion wasconvinced tha t Yugos lavia , Bulgar ia and Albania were gui l ty of a l l the s ins asc r ibed to them. But I wo uld like to ask the fo l low ing que s t ion: Is Mr. Johns on h ims e lf convince d tha t Yugos lavia ,Bulga r ia and Alba nia were gu ilty of those s ins? And to th is ques t ion I rep ly s t ra ight forwardly : No, he i s not convinced abouttha t , because a l ready he i s uncondi t iona l ly , I repea t , uncondi t iona l ly , has ten ing to g ive up h is form e r accusa t ions an d re ly on

Mr. Mc Ne il’s he lping ha nd.Indeed, for two whole weeks the American Resolu t ion No.

191 has been ins ul t ing ly looming be fore us , an d it s a id w i ththe u tmos t p rec i s ion and c la r i t y tha t the Amer ican de lega t ion



ac t t ha t Alban ia , Bu lgar i a and Yugos lav ia , i n v io l a t ion o f t her inc ip l es o f t he Un i t ed Nat ions Char t e r , had been acco rd inge lp and suppo r t t o the guer i l l a s wag ing a s t rugg le aga in s t t hereek Government . Now, was th is no t sa id per fect ly c lear ly ,

id a nyone have any doub ts as to the p rosec u t ing a t to r ne y ’sne of thought? This d raf t reso lu t ion p la in ly and c lear ly sa id

ha t t he Amer ican de lega t ion r egarded the gu i l t o f Yugos lav ia ,lban ia and Bu lgar i a as an es t ab l i shed f ac t .And w ha t do we see now? We see tha t t he Ame r ican de lega t ion

o longer r egards the ir gu i lt a s es t ab lished . I t is t he m a jo r ity o f he inves t iga t ion commiss ion tha t r egards the i r gu i l t a s es t ab shed , bu t t he Amer ican de lega t ion no longer shares r espons i i l ity fo r the comm iss ion’s conclus ions . Not a m ur m ur , no t oneing le sound on th is score any more . Now is th is no t a fac t?

Why , then , con t inue the ch ild re n ’s game o f ca t and mouse whe nne ch i ld runs a f t e r ano ther , wh i l e the r es t t ry to p reven t h imrom ca tch ing the mouse? I t somet imes happens tha t t he ca tands in the t r ap i t se l f . And I t h ink Mr . Johnson faces such aange r r igh t now whe n t ry ing to ca t ch the Yugos lav - Bulgar ian -lban ian mouse. This ca t has sof t paws, bu t sharp tee th ; i t i sf ra id o f los ing the game, a nd for th is re ason has become so k ind

ha t i t i s wi l l i ng to d i sp lay the max imum o f human i ty towardshe uncaugh t mouse . Indeed i t i s so .

In m y p re v ious speeches I po in ted ou t t ha t a p iece o f ba rg a in ng was go ing on here , t ha t p ressu re l ever s o f every k ind weree ing emp loyed , t ha t ce r t a in peop le he re were in t imida t ing ,

s ing p ress u re on and d ragoon ing o ther s i n o rder t o fo rce Yugo l av ia , Bu lga r i a a nd Alba n ia to p le ad non- ex is t en t gu ilt , a ndro mis ing God’s mercy in exchange . Here is a n amne s ty fo r you ,hey sa id , bu t be so k ind as to p romise tha t you wi l l be goodoys , you wi l l be obed ien t as i n a k indergar t en and submi t t oo u r governess , who a t t imes is ve ry severe and a t times veryind and n ice , bu t a lways fo l lows your every s tep . Now we aree ing u rged : “p lease consen t t o th is and e ver y th ing w i ll be a l ligh t , o r as the say ing goes , the sheep wi l l go un touched and the .

wolves—wolves indeed—wil l be sa t i s f ied .”In o ther words , a t t he f i r s t s t age o f t h i s Amer ican game the

Un i t ed S ta t es de l ega t ion in s i s t ed tha t Yugos lav ia , Bu lgar i a andAlba n ia ha d comm it t ed a c r ime aga in s t Greece . At the se cond

tage a p iece o f ba rg a in ing beg an , and Yugos lav ia , Bu lgar ia andAlban ia were p ressed to g ive the i r consen t t o the fo rmat ion o f

commiss ion and p romised an amnes ty in exchange . I wan t t omphas ise once more tha t the c rux o f t he mat t e r is t he e s t ab i shment o f the commiss ion : should they get that commiss ionhe dea l wou ld be sea l ed—wi th an Amer ican sea l , no t Br i t i sh ,f cour se , s ince the Br i t is h a re a lr e ady pu t t ing on the ir ha t s andidd ing f a rewel l , hu r ry ing to ge t back home away f rom Greece .

Meanwhi l e the Amer icans a re ju s t abou t t o make themse lves

o mfor ta b ly a t home in Gree ce, a nd there fore they te ll us -. now

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you have to consent to the commiss ion which we need for onereason or another .

Now comes the th i rd s t age , wh ich we r eache d yes te rday w he nthe Commit tee hur r ied ly , as i f rush ing to a f i re , he ld some sor t

o f haphaza rd vo te on the Co lombian amendmen t , wh ich theysought a t f i r s t to behead . The vot ing procedure was no t c lear tothe Colombian de legate h imsel f , who waved h is hand and sa id :Go ahe ad an d do as you please , bu t do i t qu ick ly because I amge t t ing a headache . Af te r such a r emarkab le d i sp lay o f thegame of b l i tz vo t ing , the resu l ts o f i t , h igh ly unpleasant for theAme r ican de legat ion , h ave become know n. I t "t ransp ired tha tthey were able tc · scrape up only 29 votes in support of theAmer ican de legat ion . Thus begins the th i rd s tage , ushered inas one of generosi ty , humani ty and fores igh t .

Th is is no th ing b u t a game . Ye t we a re to ld tha t the m a jo r i tyis w ith the m. But pra y , fir s t o f a l l these 29 votes are re garde d asa major i ty for one s imple reason , tha t Commit tee No. 1 has aprocedure ru le which does no t take in to account those who ab s ta ined f rom vot ing . This ru le i s r igh t now being d isputed inCommit tee No. 6 , where procedure ru les a re be ing d iscussed .Now suppose you are r igh t f rom a formal po in t o f v iew, couldyou d iscount so eas i ly 16 de legat ions which absta ined f rom vot ing? Af te r a ll, they re pres en t 16 Sta tes . The y cannot be d is counted in the manner of a bookkeeper jus t by count ing of f 29counters on an abacus and dec id ing th a t the s um to ta l is in yourfavour . You should no t forget tha t the o ther 28 de legat ions arenot suppor t ing the Amer ican accusa t ions , s ince they absta inedf rom vot ing or too k no pa r t in i t a t a ll.

I f Mr . John s on re gards the ou tcome of yes te rday’s vo t ing as av ic tory , a l l I can do i s congra tu la te h im on such a v ic tory—aPyr rh ic v ic to ry indeed . The “New York Hera ld Tr ibune” wasr igh t in des cr ib ing it as a v ic tor y on paper . Na tur a l ly , I cannotfore te ll to - day’s outcome. It i s qu ite p roba ble t ha t the Ame r ica ndelegat ion wi l l be ab le to muster a g rea ter number of vo tes infavour o f it s r e s o lu t ion . I a m qu it e p re pa re d fo r such me tam or phoses . Eve ry th ing is poss ib le , e ve ry th ing m a y tu rn ups ide down,for there are p ow e rful levers, , re s e mbling Arc himed e s ’ leve rs,which are capable of moving , i f no t the en t i re g lobe , a t leas t agood half of i t . Yet , in relat ion to yesterday’s voting, one shouldb e a r i n m i n d t h a t a m a j o r i t y w a s o b t a i n e d i n a f o r m a l b o o k ke e ping sense . But w ha t we are concerne d w i th is the m or a l andpo lit ica l a t t itude of Sta tes an d peoples towar ds our proceedings .For th is re ason one c annot accept Mr . John s on ’s s ta teme nt th a t

the ma jo r ity o f de lega t ions we re e i the r w illing o r had p romise dhim to s uppor t the Amer ic 'an accusa t ions a gains t Yugos lav ia ,Alban ia and Bu lga r ia .

Now le t us take th^ second quest ion . I f Mr . Johnson remains



tha t is , tha t they s hould consent to Co- operate w i th the commis s ion in exchange for the a l l ev ia t ion of the Amer ican indic tmentformula? On a previous occas ion the Bulgar ian and Albanianrepresenta t ives were aga in s te rn ly examined on th i s score . Nowthe y have bee n forgot ten . No one asks the m a ny more ques t ions .The Amer ican de lega t ion no longer presents any te rms , butmerely agrees to accept the French delegat ion’s proposal , a l t hough t he F rench de l ega t e has a l r eady r enounced h i s owname ndme nt a nd gone in to h id ing be hind Mr . McN e il’s ame ndment . He chose Mr. McNeil ’s company in this affai r ; but this ,of course, is a .matter of taste.

We thus see tha t the Ame r ican de leg a t ion’s s ta nd has suffe redthree metamorphoses . I dec la re tha t a l l these t ransformat ionsa re compone n t pa r t s o f a p lan p r e pa red be fo rehand . Th is p l ancons i s ted , f i r s t in advancing ext reme demands , then in present ing te rms to Gree ce’s nor ther n ne ighbours , and the n in ma kinga d i sp lay of “generos i ty” by s l id ing do^n to the Br i t i sh orF r e n c h a m e n d m e n t s .

The fou r th po in t i n t he Amer i can r e so lu t i on p roposed t ha tt he Gene ra l Assembly i n s t ruc t Bu lga r i a , Alban i a and Yugo s lavia to discont inue ass is tance to guer i l las . I t has al ready beennoted here tha t ind i rec t ly th i s poin t conf i rmed the charges tha tAlban ia , Bu lga r ia a nd Yugos lavia had bee n he lp ing the gue r illas .Such an i nd i c tmen t f o rmula i s somewha t mi lde r t han a d i r ec tone. I t reminds one of the doctor’s method of adminis ter ingcas tor o i l wi th an admixture of cof fee or warm wine to make i teasier for the pat ient . Never theless , this method was a fai lurefor the Ame rica n de leg at ion, for, the castor oil smel t too s t rong.So the n appears , Mr. McNe il, this supe rb m ix e r w ho can splendidly s hake up any cockta il— an d M. Delbos comes to his res cue.An d then th is Franco- Br it ish concoction appears , se r ved to youas something qui te new, a l though the “amendments” do notdif fer in ess ence f rom the Am e rica n proposal .

Now gent lemen, i t i s indeed funny. They want to l ead us bythe nose . They want us to conf i rm indi rec t ly the incons i s ten taccusa t ions pre fer re d a ga ins t Gree ce’s nor the rn ne ighbours . Buti t has been proved tha t ne i ther Yugos lavia nor Bulgar ia norAlban ia has done w ha t they a re accused of. This has bee n provedin par t icular by the proceedings of the invest igat ion commissionit se lf, so f re que nt ly re fer red to here . Now I am as king Mr . Joh nson, M. Delbos and Mr . Mc N e i l: Are you re a l ly sure tha t thewitnesse s ’ t es t imonies on w hich a re bas ed these accusa t ions pr e fe r re d aga ins t Greece ’s nor th e rn ne ighbours we re not prear ranged? Are you cer ta in tha t there were no fa l se wi tnessesamon g those e xamined? Why, then , do you not re fu te our s ta te ments here? Why do you keep s i l en t or t ry to t a lk about qui tedif ferent things?

This happens because you are unable to re fu te the fac t s . Youcanno t r e fu t e ou r s t a t emen t , i n wh ich we p roved t ha t Mar sha l

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T ito’s re fe rence to Mace donia was a c rude fr au d on the pa r t of t hose who a sc r ibed tha t r e fe rence to h im, a s t a t ement in w hichwe proved as unre l iable the tes t imonies of wi tnesses who wereext r ica ted f rom the noose in order to g ive to the inves t iga t ioncommiss ion t e s t imonie s favourab le t o t he Greek Government .But per haps you w i ll be able to d is suade us? No, you keep s ilent .

We he ar d M. Delbos sa ying, here , “ It seems to me t ha t Yug os l av i a , Bulga r i a and Alban ia d id t ake some pa r t i n t he c iv i lwar in Greece , tha t t h e y did accord some help to the gueri l las ,for wi thout i t they could not have negot ia ted the“front ie r .” Howcan one re ly on such an a rgument i n p re fe r r ing accusa t ionsaga ins t Yugoslavia , Bulgar ia and Albania? I f you came to themagi s t ra t e and to ld h im: “ I t s eems to me tha t t h i s man hass to l en my be long ings and tha t man has been he lp ing h im, be cause o therwise the th ie f could not have got away”—do youthink tha t a cour t would condemn them? And i f i t d id , i t wouldhave been a fa l se t r i a l .

M. Delbos , you have her e only pre s umed tha t Yugo s lav ia ,Bulga r i a a nd Alba n ia have bee n a s s is t ing the Gre ek gue r illa s .You have no fac t s and no proofs to present . We have pointed tothose who were rea l ly respons ible for the present s i tua t ion inGreece . This s i tua t ion has come about as a resul t of the ac t ionsof t he p re sen t - day Gre ek re g ime , o f Br i t is h a nd Ame r i can in t e r vent ion in Greek affa i rs , of the presence of Bri t ish forces andAmer i can “expe r t s” i n Greece .

Those who w a n t peace in the Balkans ought to begin f romthe beg inn ing and no t f rom the end , f rom the causes , no t f romeffec ts . The pr emis e lies in the w ithd r aw al of Br it is h forces f romGreece , r ega rd ing which the Sovie t Gove rnment addressed theSecur i ty Counci l as fa r back as January , 1946. In London wewere solemnly promised: “Yes, we shal l wi thdraw our forces . . .a s soon as c i rcumstances permi t .” Meanwhi le c i rcumstances donot pe rmi t a s t hey d id no t up to now, and I do no t t h ink tha tthey soon wil l .

M. Delbos a rgues tha t there a re only two ways out of the

presen t s i t ua t ion : e i t he r p ronounce pun i shment on Yugos l av i a ,Bulga r i a and Alban ia , o r r e l i eve t hem of any pun i shment a l toge ther , o therwise we wi l l l and in a vacuum. But i f you a renot convinced of your charges , i f i t only “seems to you” tha tGree ce’s nor the rn ne ighbour s a re gui lty , yo u have one more w ayout , which the cour t resor t s to when i t l acks f i rm convic t ion of the defendant ’s gui l t : the cour t may di scharge the case for l ack of evidence, for absence of proof of gui l t .

We dec l a re t ha t Bulga r i a , A lban ia and Yugos l av i a a re no tgui l ty , tha t the accusa t ions made aga ins t them are fa l se . We

po int a t those wh o re al ly ' are g uilty. An d i f i t only “seems toyou,” and i f you a re not ce r ta in of the ir gui lt , you ma y res or t toth is t h i rd w ay ou t. Mea nw hile you a re s t r iv ing fo r a condemna t ion at any cost a l tho ug h it only “seems to y ou ” th at Yug os lav ia



Bulgar ia and Albania a re gui l ty . One can only fee l amazed tha tM. Delbos, ins tead of advis ing the solut ion pract ised by anydemocra t ic cour t , goes back to medieva l jur i sprudence , to ther e ac t iona ry m e d ie va l p rocedure , when t he accused was t o r t u r edwi th a r ed ho t i r on and t o ld : “Now t ry and p rove t ha t you a r einnoce nt . I f you wi ths ta nd the tor ture the n God h ims e lf w ill

acqui t you .” Thus the en t i re a rgument of fe red by M. Delbos i sbase d on a ro t ten , fa lse and re ac t ionary concept , on the re ac t ion a ry pr inc ip le of presumed gui l t , whereas the pr inc ip le of pre sumed innocence preva i l s in the democra t ic count r ies .

Yugo s lavia’s , Bulga r ia ’s and Alb a n ia’s gui lt has not bee nproved. And i t i s in these condi t ions, owing to the fact that ace r t a in numb e r o f de lega t ions have no t t ho r ough ly acqua in t edthemselves wi th the c i rcumstances of the case , tha t we are to ld :once you form the commission i t wi l l be al l over . But i t has beenproved tha t the guer i l l a s t ruggle in Greece was not mot iva tedby Yugoslavia’s , Bulgar ia’s or Albania’s int r igues . This s t ruggle

was prompted by fore ign in te rvent ion in Greek af fa i r s . Such i sthe case not only in Greece , bu t in China and Indones ia too; wesee tha t everywhere the s t ronger Powers a re in te rvening in thedomest ic affai rs of less s t rong States . You wil l never be able tohide1behind any commiss ions , any game of humani ty and for giveness or any pious gazing into the future .

T ha t is why we a r e aga ins t t he “ame ndme n t” p roposa l byMr. McNeil and M. Delbos. We consider i t harmful , not becausei t is “m ild ” bu t because it s p urpos e is to vei l, to m as k w ith themodes t ve i l o f p ie ty the sharp weapon ra i sed aga ins t the sove re ignty of Yugos lavia , Bulgar ia and Albania . We s tand opposed

to this . An d we s ha ll ther efore „vote a ga ins t bo th Mr. McN e il’sand M. Delbos ’ “am e ndme nt ,” and a ga ins t the Ame r ican accusa t ions—unjus t , g roundless , evoking doubt even among the advocates of these accusat ions, who dare not proclaim aloud her-ethe ir f irm con vict ion of the g ui lt of the above countr ie s , bu t onlyta lk about the ir pre sumpt ions . You are ma ny. We are few. Youma y car ry out a dec is ion to your l ik ing , but the face of t r u th w illnot change . I t can only b lush wi th shame for every th ing tha t i sbeing done here in regard to this i sgue.

After other delegates had sp tken, A . Y. Vyshinsky aga in took the floor and, closely analysed the various speeches that had been made:

Firs t ly , I should l ike to dwel l on the s ta tement by M. Delbos.One can und e rs tand M. Delbos , of course , who s hould be ha unte dby shadows of the past ; but i f he is not , that ’s his business . Thefac t rema ins tha t whe n the Lea gue of Nat ions of b less ed me morywas func t ioning , g igant ic e f for t s were made to prevent the ren der ing of any ass i s tance to the l awful Republ ican Governmentof Spain aga ins t the mut ineer Genera l Franco . Now, on the con t ra ry , every th ing i s be ing done to a id a Government in Greecewhich i s proc la imed lawful / in sp i te of the fac t tha t before theeyes of a ll a c ivi l w ar is going o n in Gree ce wa ge d by the people

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who are res i s t ing th i s Government . This i s a fac t , i t s t ands immutable and exposes the par t i san , t endent ious a t t i tude of thoseSta tes which previous ly ac ted in one way and now in s imi la rcondi t ions act in a di fferent way, because i t i s to their greater

advantage . Unde r such condit ions one cannot speak ab out a fa i r ,impar t ia l a t t i tude .

M. Delbos said that the Commission displayed full impgjrt i-a lity . Wh a t k ind of im pa r t ia lity it was , is a tt es ted , by the fac ttha t it ove r looked such inc ide nts as those in Angis t r on- Lipa orin Kuka- Pa la ion- Tr ie thnes . The Commis s ion accepted the fa lsetes t imony of people take n out of the h a ng m a n’s noose , wh o gavethe t e s t imony re qu ire d by the Gree k Gover nment . In t he i r pos it ion they could not have test i f ied otherwise . And i t i s on thetes t imony of these people tha t the accusa t ions a re made aga ins t

Yugoslavia , Bulgar ia and Albania . Dr . Eva t t , re ly ing on hi s ex per ience as an a t torney, sa id tha t there were “weak spots” inth is mat te r . So you do adm it we ak spots? We say—remove the m:But i f you do remove these weak spots then te l l me: wi l l youhave s t ro ng points lef t? No, you w ill not , bec ause a ll yo ur chargesare based upon the tes t imony of such wi tnesses as Bal tadoros ,who h ad bee n tak e n out of the noose .

I bel ieve tha t this fact in it s e l f indicates th a t the Com miss ion’swork was unsa t i s fac tory . The accusa t ions aga ins t Bulgar ia ,Albania and Yugoslavia a re made of ro t ten fabr ic which turns

to dust a t the f i rs t touch.The Gre£k representa t ive sa id here tha t he could not l i s ten

ca lmly to charges of bruta l it ie s on the p ar t of the Gre ek au tho r i t ies aga ins t the oppos i tion groups and the Slav- Mace donianminor ity. He a t te mpte d to deny, the evidence c ited to this effect.

B u i the re port of. the se lfs ame inve s t iga t ing Comm is s ion says:“The Commiss ion’s a t tent ion was dr aw n to the fac t , w hich wasnot dis puted, tha t af ter the Var kiza agreement- over 20,000 Gree k ci t izens f led to Yugoslavia and about f ive thousand to Bulgaria :A cons iderable num be r of the re fugees in both ins tances were of Slavo- Mace donian or igin.” T he n the Commiss ion says: “Therewas a lso presented evidence confi rming the accusat ions thatGreece ha d sa nc t ioned the pe rs ecut ion of the Slavo- Mace donianminor i ty in Greece .” Fur ther the r?por t says : “The Commiss ionbe l ieves tha t such t rea tment caused anxie ty and di scontent onthe pa r t o f t he S l av minor i t y i n Greek Macedonia . ” The repor tpoint s out tha t such “t r e a tm e nt” of the Slavo- Mace donianminor i t y t ook p l ace i n an a tmosphe re o f b ru t a l i t y and pe rsecu t ion . What i s i t then tha t the representa t ive of the Greek Government i s denying now? Such a denia l could be made onlywhen the person making i t be l ieves tha t there a re no l iv ingwitnesses who could refute his words. A. Y. Vyshinsky recalled the statement of the former head of the



is ruled by a clique of Stock Exchange manipulators who place their selfseeking financial interests above the interests of their people. Addressing the Greek delegate, Vyshinsky asked:—

Do you reme mbe r th is? Maybe you wa nt me to c it e th is aga in?I could do i t , but I am afraid you wil l f inal ly lose your balance

and tha t your nervous sys tem w i ll no t s tand th i s quota t ion . Whydo n’t you also re fute w ha t has bee n writ te 'n in the Br it ishjou rn a l, “Econo mist ,” w hich I a lso cite d here , about the economicand pol i t i ca l s i tua t ion in Greece , and about the fac t tha t “TheUni ted Sta tes is now the m a in dr iv ing force of Gre ek pol icy” ?

The prac t ica l ques t ion i s then ra i sed here concern ing theAme r ican proposa l. Dr . Ev at t be lieves th a t Dr . We llingto n Koo ’spropos a l about the e xc lus ion of the f ir s t p ar t o f the Br i t is h a me ndment should not be accepted. He says: I f this i s excluded thereremains l i t t l e to sus ta in the second par t . This i s an in te res t ingpiece of logic—to insis t upon the accusat ions, not because they

reflec t the t r u th , no t because the y a re t r ue and fa i r , bu t becausei f they a re re moved the second poin t of the re so lu t ion w i ll a lsocollapse. T his s ta te me nt is as f ra nk as it i s cynical .

I be lieve tha t b oth the fir s t a nd the se cond pa r t of the Br it is hamendment should be d i scarded . What e l se can we do? Af te r a l li t i s not our job to save worthless points . I f that par t of theame ndme n t w h ich says t ha t “Alba n ia , Bu lga r ia and Yugos lav iar e n d e r e d s u p p o r t a n d :assis tance to the part is ans w ho foughtaga ins t the Gre ek Gove rnme nt” is removed, there should a lso ber emoved t he s econd pa r t p ropos ing t ha t Alban i a , Bu lga r i a andYugos lavia in fu ture re f ra in f rom ass i s t ing and suppor t ing the

Gree k guer i llas . He who said “A ” mu s t say “B.” Dr . Koo bel ieve stha t we s hould say “A ” but w ith re gard to “B ” we co uld be s ilen t .Mayb e ther e is some log ic to it , but in m y op inion i t is il logical.

Why d id Dr . Evat t sound the a la rm and rush to save the f i r s tpar t o f the Br i t i sh amendment? Because i f the f i r s t par t i sremoved, then, indeed, the second par t wi l l a lso fal l . I f this i s soand it is unnece ss ary to war n someone ag a ins t do ing w ha t ' hedid not do in the pas t , then the ques t ion i s : why i s there anyneed for a commission? There is no place for the commission

an d the- entire edifice falls .No, gent lemen, I mus t repea t once more tha t b lack cannot be

made whi te . Of course , i t i s a grea t 'a r t when before the eyes of

a l l a sk i l fu l manipula t ion t ransforms some th ings in to o therth ings . But th i s i s the domain of magic ians and the mas ters of s le ight of hand. B ut wher e the ho nour and d igni ty of s ta tes a re a t

s take, the magician’s t r icks and s leight of hand are not and can

not be of any ava il. The conclusion is : the Anglo- Fre nch ame nd

me nt sho uld be re jec ted . At- the sa me t ime it is necess ary tore jec t the Ame r ican proposa ls conta in ing unfounde d a ccusa t ionsaga ins t Yugos lavia , Bulgar ia and Alban ia . The Anglo- French

amendmen t smugg led t he s ame accusa t i ons t h rough t he back

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door . This is done in a ve iled form, in order to win a gre a te r n um ber of votes . This is a manoeuvre which wil l mislead no one.

VI

A. Y. VYSHINSKY’S S P E E C H E S A T T H E P O L IT IC A L 'COMMITTEE,. OC T OB ER 13, 1947

Ϊ Ν re pea ted speeches on the Gre ek ques t ion., in the Po lit ica lCommit te e a nd even ear lie r in the Se cur i ty Council, the Sovie t

delegates pointed out the complete groundlessness of the accusa t ions leve l led aga ins t Yugoslavia , Bulgar ia and Albania . Youwi l l reca l l tha t we dec la red tha t no grounds exis ted for suchaccusat ions, that a careful and object ive s tudy of the facts , onwhich i t was a t tempted to base these accusa t ions , could onlylead to a complete refuta t ion of these groundless , ar t i f ic ia l andunjust accusat ions, to the complete exonerat ion of Yugoslavia ,Bulga r i a a nd Alban ia .

The Uni ted Sta tes de lega t ion led off the whole a f fa i r wi th avery loud noise . One need only reca l l tha t the Greek ques t ionre ached the Ge ne ra l As s e mbly’s agenda impo s ingly heade d,“The T hre a t t o t he Po lit ica l Indepe ndence and T e r r it o r ia l In t e g r i ty of Gree ce .” Ye t , throug ho ut the de ba te in the Po lit ica l Commit tee , leas t of a ll, or ra th e r no thing a t a ll, was sa id of the thre a tto the pol i t i ca l independence and te r r i tor ia l in tegr i ty of Greece

on the pa r t o f he r t h ree nor the rn ne ighbours .Thus , the accusa t ions , put forward wi th such noise , proved tobe a bluff, a soap- bubble exce ss ively infla te d b y the Un ite d States .

In the end the who le a f fa ir boile d dow n to a few f ro nt ie r inc idents . Moreover , one must say qui te d i s t inc t ly and wi th a l lrespons ibi l i ty tha t the repor t s of these inc idents a re so doubt fultha t even the Amer i can and Br i t i sh repre sen ta t i ves p re fe r t opass the m over in . s ilence . At leas t ne ithe r of the m has me nt ione dla te ly Angis t r on- Lipa or Kuka- Pa la ion- Tr ie thnes .

Ne i the r was t he s l i gh t e s t a t t empt made to de fend the o the r

or ig ina l accusa t ions about the f ront ie r inc idents . The “prosecutors” d id not bother to say anything a t a l l about the o ther“inc ide nts ” . Conse quent ly we a re fu l ly e nt it le d to say t ha t theaccusa t ions wh ich have been made he re a re no t wor th a penny ,tha t t hey lack any bas is wha teve r , and a re c lea r ly no t ob jec t ive ,bu t b iase d.

, The Sovie t de lega t ion de mande d, an d de mands now, a n hones tand objec t ive approach to the Greek ques t ion. We demand andcont inue to demand an objec t ive a t t i tude to fac t s , and we do notdoubt t ha t , even tua l ly , t ru th wi l l t r i umph. We a t t r i bu t ed , and

cont inue to a t t r ibute , so mu ch s ignif icance to th is ma t te r because ,by re jec t ing a r t i f i c ia l and unjus t accusa t ions , we pave the waytowards t he s t r eng the n ing o f peace i n t he Ba lkans . On the o the rha nd those who res or t to these accusa t ions or who suppor t the m



peace and good ne ighbour ly r e l a t ions among the fou r Ba lkancount r ies .

The Sovie t delegat ion , therefore , regarded as i t s p r imarytask in the Po l i t ica l Commit tee , the es tab l i shment o f the facts ,the e l imina t ion of eve ry th ing ar t if ic ia l and a l ie n which d is to r ted

these facts and which d id no t con t r ibu te to a conscien t ious andob jec t ive a t t it ude towards the fac t s . Unfo r tun a te ly , we mus t ad mi t that we on ly succeeded in so lv ing hal f o f th i s ques t ion .

I f we sum up eve ry th ing wh ich happe ned in the P o lit ica lCommi t t ee in the pas t pe r iod , t hen we can men t ion wi th somesat i s fact ion the fa i lu re o f the a t tempts by cer ta in delegat ions ,hea de d by the de lega t ions o f t he Un it ed S ta t es and Grea t Br it a in ,to d iscred i t Yugoslav ia , Bulgar ia and Alban ia by level l ingcharges a ga in s t t he m w h ich these de lega t ions ha d u l t ima te ly tore ject .

That i s undoubted proof o f the fa i lu re o f the campaign which

the Un i t ed S ta t es a nd Grea t Br it a in waged w ith an in s is t encean d e nergy wo r thy of a bet te r cause . We no te as a re su l t o f thework of the Po l i t ica l Commit tee , the fa i lu re o f the a t tempts tofo is t on to Yugos lav ia , Bu lgar i a and Alba n ia these unw ar ran ted ,un jus t and fa l se accusat ions .

The fac t t ha t t he Un it e d S ta tes was un ab le to r ea lise it s p lansaga in s t Yugos lav ia , Bu lga r i a and Alba n ia , and tha t it wasob l iged to r eso r t t o manoeuvres tha t had l i t t l e i n common wi ththe or ig inal accusa t ions , th is fac t covers up an open re t re at f romits former posi t ion.

Doeg no t this, fac t spe ak for its e lf? Ye s, i t does. It s pea ks of the

fa i lu re o f t he scu r r i lous campaign aga in s t t he no r the rn ne igh bou rs o f Greece w h ich the Ang lo - Amer ican b loc has fo r m an ymon ths waged s tubbo rn ly and wi th a c rude a rb i t r a r iness . Thea t t i t ude o f t he Ame r ica n and Br i t is h de lega t ions a t t he p rev iousme e t ing leaves no doubt as to the correctness o f m y conclus ion .

In s t imming up the res u lt s o f the debate , the Sovie t delegat ionis o f the op in ion t ha t i t is e n t it le d , to asser t the complete fa ilu r eof the ar t if ic ia l ly concocted ca mpa ign aga ins t Yugo s lav ia , Bu l ga r ia and Alba n ia . Th is ca mpa ign pu r sued , a s is now pa r t i cu la r lyclear , on ly one a im: to d is t ract the a t ten t ion of the wor ld f romthe th in ly d isgu ise d in t e r fe re nce o f t he Un i t ed S ta t es a nd Grea t

Br i ta in in the in ternal af fa i rs o f Greece , and thei r a t tempts toconvert Greece into a base, a s t rongpoint , a p lace d’armes forthe r e a lisa t ion o f p lans w h ich have no th ing in common w ith en s ur ing co- operat ion, peace , and the se cur ity o f the peoples . Wesa id the same th ing a t the la s t mee t ing . We need no t r e pea t ou r se lves . But we cannot he lp no t ing the se lf- exposure o f the Ame r i can p lans which took p lace before the eyes o f the whole wor ldw he n Mess rs . Johnso n , McNe il and Delbos , a f ter p re v ious agree me n t among themse lves , a l te re d the o r ig ina l Ame r ican r e so lut ionby a dop t ing the Ang lo - F rench amendm e n t . In th is w ay theydisowned thei r o r ig inal accusat ions and sh i f ted the en t i re res

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ponsibi l i ty on to the commission of invest igat ion. The majori tyof the commit tee thereby avoided taking any pol i t ical J-esponsi-b i l i t y fo r wha t had been done .

I must emphas ise aga in to- day, tha t the a l te ra t ion in the U.S.re s o lu t ion by the Anglo- French amend me nt was made no tw ith

s tand ing Mr. Joh ns on ’s pre vious de c la ra t ion th a t the Ame ricanGovernment would agree t o t he amendment on ly on condi t i ontha t Yugoslavia , Bulgar ia and Albania dec la red the i r agree ment to the se t t ing up of the commiss ion and the i r readiness toco- operate w i th this commis sion. Yugo s lav ia , Bulga ria an d A l bania did not agree. In our view they acted correct ly, ful ly inkeeping wi th the i r s ta te d igni ty and sovere ignty .

As we unde rs tand it , the c ondit ions wh ich we re so me nac inglyand nois i ly advanced by the Uni ted Sta tes de lega tes , were re

j ec ted by Yugoslavia , Bulgar ia and Albania . And these condi t ions were a t once forgot ten by the American de lega t ion and bythe de lega tes of the count r ies which suppor ted them.

The wi thdrawa l o f t he p rev ious accusa t ions aga ins t Yugo s lavia , Bulgar ia and Albania was made very quickly , a l thoughthe Governments of these three count r ies re jec ted the Americancondit ions.

Ins tead of the or ig ina l resolut ion which dec la red tha t Yugos lavia , Bulgar ia and Albania had viola ted the pr inc iples of theChar t e r by a id ing and s uppor t ing the gue r illa s , who a re wa ging

a s t ruggle ag a ins t the Gre ek Gove rnme nt , the Anglo- Ame ricanbloc c onfine d i tse lf to® a s imple s tat e me nt of the conclusionsreached by the ma jor i t y o f t he members o f t he i nves t iga t ioncommiss ion. ( I add in parenthes i s , a very doubt ful major i ty . )This , of course , meant not only the wi thdrawal of the or ig ina laccusat ions, but a lso a desi re to a void any re s pons ibility for such‘accus at ions. T he memb e rs of the Co mmit tee who vote d for thisdec is ion washed the i r hands of th i s shameful a f fa i r , re fe r r ingthose who seek the t ru th f rom Po nt ius t o P ila t e .

Thus no one can di spute the fa ilur e of the Ar iglo- American

plans to accuse and di sc r imina te aga ins t the Governments of Yugos lavia , Bu lga r ia a nd Alba nia in the so- called “Gree k ques t i on . ” The a t t empt s a t such un jus t d i sc r imina t ion were f rus t ra te d . .We note w ith s a t is fac t ion tha t th is a t t e mpt was f rus t r a t ed thanks t o t he fac t t ha t a cons ide rab le number o f de l ega t ions re fused to p lay the ro le of obedient tool in the hands of tha t group of count r ies which, under Uni ted Sta tes l eadership ,is a t t empt ing , and in some cases unfor tuna t e ly no t wi thou t success , to dic ta te to the U.N. organisat ion the t rend of i t s act ivi ty,an d to impose s uch decis ions as pleas e the U.S.A. bu t wh ich con

t ra dic t the ge nuine a ims a nd pr inc iple s of the U.N. organisa t ion.We saw by the vot ing a t the las t meet ing tha t , bes ides the s ixSlav count r ies wh ich re s is ted the u njus t accusa t ions , a cons ider able number of de lega tes re fused to suppor t the accusers In



me r ican p roposa l s compr ise d a lmos t ha lf t he to t a l de lega t ionsp resen ted here . Tha t was , o f cou r se , a de fea t fo r t he Un i t edates , wh ich ha d a ma jor i ty o f vo tes in the U.N. o rg an isa t ion

nd in a l l i t s bod ies , s ince some count r ies are car ry ing ou t ao l icy d i c t a t ed to the m by the Un it e d S tat es . If we a re to speak f a v ic to r y of the Anglo- American b loc because of the ir me ch an i

a l major i ty in the vo t ing , i t can on ly be o f a Pyrrh ic v ic to ry . I tappropr ia te in th is connect ion to recal l the cry o f the ancien t

oman Empero r : “Varus , Varus , g ive me back my l eg ions .”The Sovie t delegat ion i s gu ided by the recogni t ion of the im

o r t ance o f t he mat t e r under d i scuss ion , by the need to es t ab sh the t rue r easons fo r t he s i tua t ion in Greece—a s i tua t ionhich is e xe r t ing a ba ne fu l in f luenc e on the fo re ign- po lit ica lla t ions be twee n Greece and o ther count r ies . The Sov ie t de lega

on has waged , and wi l l con t inue to wage a s t ruggle fo r theiminat ion of the real reasons fo r the s i tuat ion in Greece, whichreatens the cause of peace and the secur i ty o f the peoples .The Gre ek que s t ion con t inues to cause a la r m among the pub l ic

f the de mocr at ic peace- lov ing count r ies . The peace- lov ingeoples cannot reconci le themselves to any a t tempts to cover upe r ea l roo t o f t he ev i l and mise ry wh ich have f a l l en upon thereek peop le , and wh ich th rea t en the peace and secu r i ty o f t here e S ta tes ne ighb our ing on Greece, as we ll as the se cur ity o f thehole wor ld . Only by e l iminat ing th is rea l roo t o f ev i l can t ran u il li ty be ass ured on the Gre e k borders , a nd the fo re ign- po lit ica lomp licat ions wh ich are th r e ate n ing pe ace fu l co- operat ion in thea lkans be e l imina ted .

The Sovie t delegat ion p laced before the Po l i t ica l Commit tee ,nd ear l ier before the Secur i ty Counci l , su f f ic ien t fac ts p rov inga t r espons ib i l i t y fo r t he inc iden t s on the no r the rn f ron t i e r

f Greece must be p laced a t the door o f the Greek au thor i t ies .om the mate r i a l s o f t he Secu r i ty Counc i l Commiss ion v /h i chves t igated the inciden ts on the Greek border , i t i s no t d i f f icu l t convince onesel f , g iven the leas t ob ject ive approach to theat ter , o f the connect ion between these inciden ts and the hos t i leo l i cy ca r r i ed ou t by the p resen t Greek Governmen t in r e l a t ion the count r ies neighbour ing on Greece. We have po in ted ou tese fac ts . We c anno t keep r e pe a t ing them over and over aga in .

hose who have ears w i ll hea r , those wh o have eyes w i ll see .We have quo ted many t es t imon ies , i nc lud ing the t es t imony o f eop le w ho can in no way- be accused of be ing in favo ur o f Yugo av ia , Bu lgar ia a nd Alba n ia in th is ma t t e r . We have po in ted toe tes t imonies o f people as compete n t in Gre ek a ffa irs as cer in r ep re se n ta tives o f t he Ame r ican Gove rnm e n t it se l f. A l l t h is

v idence t es t ifie s t o the bank rup tcy o f t he p res en t Gree k Govern en t , wh ich i s unab le to concea l t he ro l e wh ich fo re ign in t e r rence has p layed in the in ternal af fa i rs o f Greece . I quo ted , in

a r t icu la r , au th o r it a t ive t e s t imony to the e f fec t t ha t fo re ign a ida s b e in g us e d b y t h e G r e e k G o v e r n me n t t o g u a r a n t e e t h e p e r

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mane nce of .the pr iv ile ges of a s ma ll ba nk ing and c omme rcia lc l ique which const i tu tes an inv is ib le power in Greece , whoseent i re ac t iv i t ies spr ing f rom the de terminat ion to preserve f inan cial pre roga tives at any cost , eve n at the ex pense of the ec onomicsoundness of the country.

I t is no longe r a secre t to anyone th a t it is p rec ise ly this b a nk ing and comme rcia l c lique w hich bea r re s pons ib ility for the in te r na l s i tua t ion in Greece , a re s pons ib ility shar ed by the Gover n me nts of the Powers tha t a re the m a in motive- force in Gre ek polit ics . We belie ve i t necess ary once more to dra w the a t te n t ion o f wor ld pub l i c op in ion to the co r rup t ion and ty rannywhich p reva i l in Greece , wi th the suppor t o f the Un i ted S ta te san d Gre at - Br ita in . These Sta tes made i t poss ib le for the Gre ek ru ling c l ique to ex plo i t a nd oppress the people , w i th the h e lp of the Gre ek genda rme r ie a nd police , backe d by the a rme d forcesof cer ta in fore ign Sta tes .

That i s why the Sovie t Government ins is ted , and cont inues toins is t , on the wi thdrawal of Br i t i sh t roops f rom Greece . TheSov ie t Governmen t be l i eves tha t the wi thd rawal o f fo re ignt roops i s an abso lu te ly ind ispe nsab le p re requ is i t e fo r the e s tab lis hme nt of o rder a nd publ ic t r a nq ui ll ity in Greece , tha t it i s a lsothe mos t impor tan t cond i t ion fo r the e s tab l i shmen t o f no rmalre la t ions be tween Greece and ne ighbour ing Sta tes . That i s whythe Sov ie t Governmen t con t inues to in s i s t on the r eca l l f rom

Greece of the va r ious Anglo- Amer ican mi lita ry and c iv i lian in s t ruc tors and so- called exper ts . This a lso is a n im po r ta n t condi t ion for the successfu l ' so lu t ion of the task of normal is ing thein te rn al a nd fore ign- polit ica l s i tua t ion in Greece .'

In th is connect ion the Sovie t Government considers i t impor t an t to ensu re tha t a l l f unds wh ich the Un i ted S ta te s i s send ingto Gree ce on the pr e te xt of ec onomic aid , are re al ly us ed f-or the iravowed purpose . These funds sho uld be used pre c ise ly for econo mic a id , no t for b u i ld ing mi li ta r y bases a nd t r a in ing ge ndarm e r ieunits and corps for the s uppress ion of the guer i llas . For th is p ur

pose the Sovie t Government proposes the crea t ion of a specia lcommis s ion w i th the- functions of super v is ing , in the in teres ts o f the Greek people alone, the al locat ion of the aid received.

I f the r e pres en ta t ives of the Uni ted Sta tes ob jec t to the se t t ingup of such a commis sion, is it not be cause the y are a fra id of sucha commis s ion—tha t such a commis s ion wo uld pre vent the u t i lis a t ion of the economic a id for po l it ica l purposes pro hib ite d by theU.N. Organisa t ion Char ter?

In accordance wi th what I have s ta ted , the Sovie t de legat ionsubmi t s a d ra f t r e so lu t ion wh ich wi l l now be deba ted by the

Pol i t ica l Commit tee . The Sovie t de legat ion abso lu te ly and fu l lysuppor ts th is d raf t , because i t sees in the proposals conta inedthe re in the on ly cor rec t pa th for a dec is ion of the Gree k quest ion,the only guaran tee for the es tab l ishment of peacefu l re la t ions ,



count r ies . The Sovie t de lega t ion be l ieves tha t th i s pa th cor res ponds to the in te res t s both of the Balkan count r ies and thepeoples of the world.

m * # *

Speaking a second time at the Political Committee on October 13 ,

A. Y . Vyshinsky began by replying to the representat ives of the Dominican Republic and. San Salvador, who claimed, that the Soviet . draft resolution contradicted the adopted pro cedure: —

THE Sovie t · p roposa l , fa r f rom co nt ra dic t ing the proce dure , isd ire c t ly provided for in it . T here ha d been an Ame r ican reso

u t ion , and a number of o ther reso lu t ions as wel l , wi thdrawn byhe ir au thors . Now the Sovie t dr af t i s und e r cons idera t ion in the

order of success ion. Why does th is cont ra d ic t the procedure ? Whydo these gent leme n re pres ent ing the Dom inican Repu bl ic andSan Salvador confuse a c lear issue? Is i t not because i t i s easiero f ish in t ro ubled wate rs , 'as the sa ying goes?

Referring to Mr·. Johnson’s objections to the establishment of a commission to supervise the utilisation of foreign economic aid to Greece n the sole interests of the people, Vyshinsky said:—

You, object , of course, and the meaning of these object ionsshould be per fec t ly c lear to everybody. You have secured theestabl ishment of a commission which is to supervise the ful f i l ment of decis ions adopted here, a commission that would provide·for your in te res t s through tha t superv i s ion . But when someoneproposes to es tab lish a commiss ion to provide for the in te res t s of he Gree k people , you ge t f r ighte ned . You sa id to- day, threa ten ngly , tha t the Uni ted Sta tes was prepared to d i scont inue econo

mic 'a id to Greece a l toge ther i f such a commiss ion was es tab i shed . But th i s only goes to prove once more the t rue na ture of

your “a id .”We propose to es tab l i sh a commiss ion because there i s every

re ason for anx ie t y about the methods of re nde r ing th is a id . Doyou t h ink t ha t t he r e a r e no r easons fo r t h is anx ie ty? I f so, t henwhy are you af ra id of the es tab l i shment of such a commiss ion?Is i t so awe - inspir ing? Is i t arme d? Ha s i t t roo ps a t it s dispos al?Does it com man d some mira culous or magic force? I am jus trepea t ing the ques t ions which Mr . McNei l asked the Yugos lavdelega te regard ing the es tab l i shment of the Balkan commiss ion .V/ha t t hen a r e you a f r a id o f ? Why do you no t wan t a t l ea s t t ovote for this Soviet proposa l? No, you w ill neve r vote for it . Why?For one s imple reason , tha t your funds a re not spe nt for economica id a t a ll, an d you are a f ra id of be ing exposed .

On Sep t embe r 27, we ha d a lr e ady a n oppo r tun it y o f mak ing as t a t emen t , w h ich I s ha l l now r epea t : t he fo rmer Under - Sec re t a ryof State , Mr. Acheson, publ icly declared that 150 mil l ion dol larshad bee n appro pr i a t ed f rom the fun d o f “a id” acco rded toGreece unde r t he Truman and Mar sha l l doc t r i ne , f o r t he Army,and another 150 mil l ion dol lars for economic rehabi l i ta t ion and

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the pu rchas ing o f consumer goods . Bu t wha t k ind o f r ehab i l i t a t ion do these m e n me an? To ans we r th is quest ion , it is enough tog lance a t a p lan of the expendi ture for economic rehabi l i ta t ionannounced by the head o f the Amer ican Miss ion in Greece ,Mr. Griswold.

The Gree k r ep re se n ta t ive s a id tha t he was no t awa re o f Mr .Gr isw old’s omnipotence . Pe rha ps he w ould like to te l l us tha t heneve r he ar d of a m a n c a lle d Mr . 'Gr isw old? T his is no t t rue . Youa ll kno w pe rfec t ly we ll how~ powerful he is , an d not only do youkno w it , bu t a l l those w ho s i t be h ind you—Mr. Ts a ldar is an d theo the r me mbers o f the de lega t ion . And you know jus t a s we ll tha twhat i s involved i s no t h is ind iv idual power bu t the ch ief fac torde te rm in ing Gre ece ’s en t ire e x te rna l and in te rn a l po lic ies , andth is fac tor is the Uni te d Sta tes . T his is no t my idea . This has beenpubl is he d by Mr . Por te r , he ad of one of the Ame r ican miss ions in

Greece.T hus you c an see, fro m w ha t Mr . Aches on sa id , how these funds

are spent . Conse quent ly , we proposed—p rovide d you have noth ing a t the back of your minds , p rovided you are rea l ly ac t ingsincere ly wi th regard to the rehabi l i ta t ion of Greek economy—that you should be k ind enough to vo te for th is minor po in t ina resolut ion consist ing of only three l ines. Give us this proof of co- opera t ion, appease the a larm e d conscience of the na t ions . I f we b lunder , p lease he lp us to overcome our b lunders , show ustha t you are rea l ly concerned only wi th do ing benef i t to one or

another sec t ion of unhappy mankind . But I wi l l te l l you f rankly :you w i ll no t be ab le to s how this , fo r yo ur purposes 'a re abs o lu te lyd iffe re n t . A ce r ta in spe aker her e has a l rea dy quoted La Fonta ine ,and I cannot he lp re ca lling the Rus s ian fab le wr ite r Kry lov , w hosa id in one of h is fab les : “There was anothe r mot ive be hind it ,the host was fond of music .”

Th is is how ma t te r s t and w ith Am e r ican “a id” to Greece andwi th ou r r a the r modes t p roposa l to e s tab l i sh a commiss ion tosuperv ise the rea l i sa t ion of fore ign economic ass is tance in thein teres ts o f the Greek people .

Dealing with Mr. McNeil’s statement that the Albanian Government had blown up British ships, Vyshinsky said:—

Mr. McN e il shou ld know tha t th is d ispu te was unde r the cons idera t ion of the in terna t ional cour t . So far as I know, the in ter na t iona l cou r t has no t ye t e xa mine d th is case and has no t adop teda decis ion . So why are you predetermin ing the verd ic t? Becauseyou are assured in advance of tha t dec is ion , as you are s t rongand Alban ia i s weak , and you r ea l ly be l i eve in the say ing tha tit is no t w or th wh i le quar re lling w ith a r ich ma n . Alba n ia s toodup agains t a s t rong adversary , because she was no t gu i l ty of w ha t you accused her . As the re pre s en ta t ive of one of the par t iesconcerned, you should, out of a mere sense of tact for one thing,have wa i ted un t i l the in te rna t iona l cou r t had i t s say .

h h h h f h f



Brita in had levelled against Albania, accusations without foundation, Vyshinsky, turning to Mr. McNeil, said:—

We have been observ ing fo r t he pas t t h ree weeks you r easyik ing for accusat ions . But there has no t bee n a s ing le ins tanc e of

you r b r ing ing fo rward any f ac t s t o con f i rm you r charges . Whats more , you have refu ted none, no t a s ing le one, o f our accusa

ions . You kep t s i l en t when I spoke abou t t he f r aud wh ich hadak e n p lace in the comm iss ion’s inves t igat ions , a l though y ou area suf f ic ien t ly exper ienced man to miss no oppor tun i ty o f h i t t ingyour opponen t where i t hu r t s mos t . Why , then , d id you r es t r a inyour v igour th is t ime?

You te l l us you are no t agains t the Comintern . The on lyrouble i s that there i s no Comintern . You s imply have an hal lu

c inat ion . I have sa id before that fear makes one regard th ingsn an exaggerated perspect ive . No sooner d id you read in the

paper s tha t t he r ep resen ta t ives o f n ine Communis t Par t i e s hadassembled in Warsaw and d i scussed means o f exchang ing in

fo rmat ion than you immed ia t e ly announced tha t t h i s was theComintern . But p ray , f i r s t ly , the Comintern involved a muchgrea te r numb e r o f pa r tie s t ha n n ine . Second ly , you were a lr e adyg iven e xp lana t ions by the o rganise r s and pa r t ic ipan t s o f t he conf e r e n c e i n W a r s a w t h a t t h e n e w I n f o r ma t i o n B u r e a u h a sd i f f e ren t pu rposes than those wh ich the Comin te rn pu r sued ints t ime. What , then , are you af ra id o f?

The Communis t Mani fes to , which appeared in 1848 , beg inswi th the fo l lowing words: “A spect re i s haunt ing Europe, thespect re o f Com mu nism .” An d now we see Mr. McNe il is ha unte dby th is spect re , he is f r igh te ne d and g ives us a fan ta s t ic des cr ip

t ion of a non- ex is ten t ins t itu t ion . I t is n ice t ha t you a t lea s t areno t agains t the Comintern . And we shal l pu t i t on record as youhave sa id it : Mr . McN e il has no ob ject ions to the Com inte rn . Areyou haun te d by ha l luc ina t ions ? Take some va le r ian d rops . Theysometimes help in these cases.

Vyshinsky went on to deal with the statements made by Mr. McNeil and the representatives of the Greek Government, who declared that British forces were staying in Greece on perfectly legitimate grounds :—

Gent le me n, this - is no t the fir s t t ime we have d iscusse d whe theror not the stay of Bri t ish t roops in Greece is legi t imate. As long

as 18 months ago I said at a meet ing of the Securi ty Counci l inLondon , r e fe r r ing to the s t a t emen t tha t Br i t i sh t roops were

s t ay ing in Greece w ith the knowledge and on the r e ques t o f t heGree k Gover nme n t , .t ha t t he re was no th ing s u rp r i s ing ab ou t t ha t ,

a s t he Gre ek Gove rnme n t had become a Governm e n t on ly be cause Great Br i ta in pat ron ised and ass i s ted i t . Now we wi tnessa queer th ing—firs t they p lace a cer ta in Government in powerand then th i s Governmen t appea l s t o those who p laced i t t he re

wi th the reques t : “Please help us , p lease suppor t us , o therwisewe shal l be lost .” Such is the t rue picture.

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Vyshinsky recalled several statements of British M.P.s who protestedagainst Great Britain’s intervention in Greek affairs.

Thus the Labo ur M.P ., Mr . Ar th ur Gree nwood sa id in the House o f Commons th a t in h is op in ion it was in to le ra b le th a t

Br i t is h t roops shou ld be used fo r purposes th a t ha d b ro ught abo u t an in t e rna t iona l qua r r e l in Greece . Ano the r L abou r M.P ., Ma jo r Ly a l l Wilkes , sa id th a t the Gre e k cr is is w ould not be solved so long as, r igh t unde r the nose o f the Br it is h Arm y and Br it i sh pol it ica l offic ia ls , re pre se nta t ives of the best e lements in Gre e k life were re garde d as c r imina ls and t re a te d as such.

Vyshinsky further cited the statement, dated 18 months ago, of thethen Greek Prim e Minister, Mr. Sophoulis, now Prime Minister again, in which he said:—

“Al l Gove rnm e nt measures a re para lys e d by the ‘X ’- ites .(Gre e k Roya lis t - Fa s c is t s ) . Four - fifths o f the s ta te appar a tus , o f the le ga l syste m, of the ge ndar me rie, police an d officer corps are in the han ds of ‘X ’- ites. T he Sour las ba nds are lor ding i t in the p rovinces and have es tab lishe d the ir own s ta te au th or i ty . The y a re ver y we ll a r me d and do w ha t they p leas e .” ,Now, add to th is w ha t Ma jor Wilke s s a id : “They do a ll th is unde r the nose of the B r it is h Arm y ,” Vyshinsky remarked. He continued:^

As far back as Ja nu a r y , 1946, Mr. Be vin sa id a t a me e t ing o f the Secur i ty Counc i l tha t Br i t i sh fo rces were in Greece to

establish order . Wh a t o rde r have you es tab lishe d? There is and can be no order in Greece because i t i s the presence of Bri t ishforces the re th a t cons t itu tes the source o f d iso rder .

I cou ld quo te ye t ano the r me mbe r o f t he B r it is h P a r liam e n twhose s ta teme nt w ould he lp in c la r ify ing the is sue .

The La bou r M.P ., Mr . Se ymo ur Cocks , des c r ibed the Gre ek democra t ic fo rces f igh t ing the Athens Governm e nt as a move ment o f na t iona l res i s tance ; a movement o f the en t i re peop le .I t is . . . . a na t iona l movem en t a nd it s purpose is t he f r ee ing o f

Greece f rom the d om ina t ion o f the Axis Powers , the recons t ruc t ion o f the coun t ry and the l ibe ra t ion o f the peop le f rom anyfore ign in te r fe re nce whatsoeve r .

Mr . Cocks re ad in the House o f Commons a le t te r f rom a Br i t is h p ilo t in Sa lon ika des cr ibing a pop u la r de mons t ra t ion , which concluded by saying: I f the Bri t ish forces d id not in tro duce ant i- popular t roops in thes e are as ther e c ould be no c iv ilwar . '' '

Is not a ll th is c lear , ge nt le me n? You r conscience s hould ha ve to ld you wh a t is t he c rux o f the ma t t e r and why we ende avou r

fo r t he s econd yea r run n ing to have the Gre ek people libe ra t e d f rom fore ign ru le , a ma tte r , ope nly spoke n about, in the 'Br it is h P a r liam e n t by the be t t e r s ec t ion o f the L abou r P a r ty .

R f i t th t t t th t th Ath G t l iti t



the ver y eve of the Se curi ty Coun ci l’s me e t ing to discuss theGree k ques t ion .. Here is wh at he sa id : “I t ake t he o ppor tun ity o f remarking that , as I have told Bri t ish off ic ia ls , we cannot think of the possibi l i ty of f ree and genuine elect ions unt i l a broadamnes ty i s g ran ted . The h igh ly inef fec t ive law i ssued by theGove rnm e nt w i th a v iew to un loa d ing the ja i ls d id no t cons t i tu tesuch an amnes ty . Secondly , t e r ror i sm waged by respons ib leorganisa t ions and Gove rnme nt bodies m us t be s topped . Suchte r ro r i sm has been ve ry marked in t he r ecen t even t s i n Ka laLama ta . T h ird ly , t he s t a te appa ra tu s m us t be pu rged o f a llFasc i s t and r eac t i ona ry e l emen t s who have r ema ined a t t he i rpos t s , no tw ith s t and ing the fac t t ha t t hey a r e r emna n t s o f t hed ic ta torsh ip and the enemy occupa t ion ru le .”

You a l l , my dear represen ta t ives o f the U.S .A. , Grea t Br i ta inand Greece , and you represen ta t ives o f the Dominican Republ ican d Sa n S a lvador , a re per fec t ly a ware of a l l th is . One couldbr ing forward any number of fac t s and s ta tements to th i s e f fec t .

But should no t those a l ready brought fo rward suf f ice fo r you tounde r s t and w hy the Sovie t Un ion is d e m an d ing in a l l ju s t ic e ,t ha t B r i t i sh fo r ce s be w i thd rawn f rom Greece? We a r e so pe r s i s ten t on th i s po in t because the wi thdrawal o f Br i t i sh forcesand the reca l l o f a l l fo re ign “advise rs” and “exper t s” f romGreece is re a l ly the sole means of e s ta b lish ing peace and t r a n qu i l l i ty in tha t par t o f the Balkans .

In conclusion Vyshinsky remarked:Natural ly , the Soviet delegat ion wil l ins is t on i ts resolut ion.

We are aware of the presen t cor re la t ion of fo rces here , jus t aswe a re aware of how i t has been bu i l t up . We are convinced

t l^a t in the dep th of your hear t s many of you be l ieve us to ber igh t , and ye t we know tha t th is does no t me an t ha t you w i llopenly ra i se your hands for our p roposa l . But a t any ra te ourword, pronounced in this hal l , wi l l sweep across the world. Theword o f t r u th w i l l wa rm the hea r t s o f mi l l i ons who do no t andca nnot acquies ce in unjus t accusat ions aga ins t peace- lovingpeople . We ins i s t on our reso lu t ion and regard i t a s the bannerof our s t r uggle for , the inter es ts of a ll fre edom- loving nat ions .

V II

A. Y. VYSHINSKY’S SPEECH AT THE

P LE N ARY SESS ION, OCT OBER 20, 1947

1. His tor y of the Gre e k Ques t ion

THE Genera l Assembly i s to cons ider the ques t ion on theagenda regard ing a th rea t to the po l i t i ca l independence and

te r r i to r ia l in tegr i ty o f Greece . This ques t ion has been d i scussedat le ngth in Com mit tee NO. 1, w hich has now s ubm it te d its re portan d proposa ls on th is is sue to the Gene ra l Ass embly .

The Sovie t de lega t ion cannot agree wi th the proposa ls sub mi t ted for your cons idera t ion on beha l f o f the major i ty in Com

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mit tee No. 1. The Soviet delegat ion bel ieves these proposals tobe incorrec t , groundless and therefore u t te r ly inappropr ia te asa means o f se t t ling the Gre ek que s t ion an d re moving the a bnor mal c i rcumstances observed in the re la t ions be tween Greece onthe one han d and Yugos lav ia , Bulga r ia an d Alba n ia on the o the r .

The Gre ek ques t ion in t he Uni t ed Na t ions has a long record.P e r ha ps it w o u ld be e xpe d ie n t to r e m ind you t ha t on J a n ua r y 21of las t year the Sovie t de lega t ion on the ins t ruc t ions of theU.S .S .R. Gove rnm e nt p roposed to t he Se cur it y - Counc il t ha t i tshou ld cons ide r t he s it ua t ion in Greece a nd t ake meas ures p ro vide d for by Art ic le 35 of the U.N. Char te r in order to e limina tetha t s i tua t ion.

Wha t were t he rea sons which p rompted the Sovie t Gove rn me nt to ca l l the Se cur ity Coun ci l’s a t t e nt ion to the Gree k s i tua t ion? At t ha t t ime the Br i tis h Gove rnm e nt ’s r epre se n ta tive in t he

Sec ur ity Counci l, Mr . Be vin , a t t e mpte d so to pres ent the case asto say tha t t he Sovie t Gove rnment pursued d i f fe ren t purposeswhe n ra i s ing the Gre ek que s t ion in t he Se cur it y Counc il. A t a nyrate , on Fe br ua ry 1, 1946, M r : Be vin dec lar e d a t a m e e t ing of theSecur it y Counc il t h a t whe neve r t he Gre ek p rob le m a rose dur ingnegot ia t ions w ith t he Sovie t Union , it was a lways wh e n we werediscuss ing problems of Rumania , Bulgar ia or Poland. And hetwent on to say tha t th i s ques t ion had a lways been ra i sed tocounte r - a t tack Grea t Br it a in whene ve r we touched on p rob lemsconce rn ing any o the r pa r t o f Europe .

I t goes wi thou t say ing tha t t he se s t a t ement s made by Mr .Bevin l a s t yea r were u t t e r ly g roundle ss . The re was no counte r a t t ack e i t he r aga ins t Grea t Br i t a in o r aga ins t t he Uni t ed S t a t e sof Ame rica a t t ha t t ime , a nd the re is none , a t the pres ent t ime .This ma t t e r is ve ry de ep ly sea t ed in t he i n t e r na l s i t ua t ion inGreece , which became a source of anxie ty for peace and these cur ity of na t ions , and firs t and fore most for the fa te of Gre ece ’sth ree nor the rn ne ighbours—Yugos lav i a , Bulga r i a and Alban ia .As fa r bac k as Ju ly , 1945, the Sovie t Gove rn me nt , in conne c t ionw ith t he Ya l t a de c la ra t ion on libe ra t e d Europe , s ubmit t ed t o t heBe r l in Confe re nce a me mo ra ndu m wh ich desc r ibed the s i t ua t ionin Gree ce as charac te r is ed by a lack of prope r order , by dis re spec tfo r t he l aw, by rampant t e r ro r i sm aga ins t democra t i c e l ement swho had, as is unive rs a l ly know n, borne the br un t of the s t rugglew it h t he G e r m a n inva de r s in E u r ope a nd t he H it le r it e ho r de s inGreece.

Somewhat l a te r , in September ,1945, to be prec i se—and tha t i slong before the above- ment ioned me e t ing of the Se cur ity Counc i l i n 1946—the Sovie t Gove rnment submi t t ed a new memoran dum to the f i r s t sess ion of the Fore ign Minis te rs in London re garding the s ta te of . affa i rs in Greece. The preamble to thismemorandum sa id t ha t r epor t s a r r i v ing f rom Greece t e s t i f i ed t othe ex t reme ly t ense i n t e rna l s i t ua t ion the re , f r augh t wi th g rave



secur i ty o f her neighbours . Th is s ignal i ssued by the Sovie tGovernmen t wi th r egard to the abno rmal s i t ua t ion in Greece ,wh ich was—as was po in ted ou t t hen—fra ugh t wi th g rave conse quences fo r t he Greek na t ion and fo r peace and the secu r i ty o f he r ne ighbours , me t with no r esponse fro m Gre a t Br it a in and theUni ted S ta tes . The c on t inual ly de te r io ra t ing po l it ica l s i tuat ion in

Greece, however , impel led the Sovie t Government again to ra i sethe Gre ek ques t ion a t the Confer ence of the th ree Min is ter s he ldbetween December 16 and 26, 1945. And even at that t ime thepro b lem of the p rese nce of Br it i sh fo rces in Greece loomed large .But even then th is ques t ion was no t d iscussed .

When, in January , 1946 , the Sovie t Government ra i sed thequest ion of the s i tuat ion in Greece before the Secur i ty Counci l ,it d id so fo r four m a in reasons , p r im ar ily concerned w i th the s tayof Br i t is h fo rces in Greece. The Sovie t me mo ra nd um poin ted ou tthat the s tay of Br i t i sh fo rces in Greece was no t necessary andtha t it ha d ac tua l ly tu rne d in to a means o f b r ing ing press u re to

be ar on po lit ic’a l de ve lopme nts inside Gree ce, an d t ha t th iss ituat ion was no t in f re que nt ly u t ilis e d by the Gree k react ionar iesagains t the democrat ic fo rces o f the count ry . Hence fo l lowedhe conclus ion that i t was necessary to wi thdraw Br i t i sh fo rces

f rom Greece . Th i s wou ld have ce r t a in ly b rough t t he des i r edpeace a nd order to Greece.

We are to ld tha t Br i t is h fo rces re ma ine d in Greece to es tab lisho rder the re . Bu t a l r eady fo r two year s the Br i t i sh have beenes tab l i sh ing order in Greece, and there i s no order yet . I t i s fo rthe Greeks themselves to see to the es tab l i shment o f o rder inGreece. T he Gree k people themse lves , fam ous for the democ rat ic

tradi t ions of heroic Hellas, are capable of set t l ing their domest icaffa irs w itho ut the he lp o f fo re ign t roops . T he Gre ek people d idnot ask fo r such help . I t is the Gre ek Gove rnm e nt th at begs fo rsuch help in o rder to s tay in powe r aga ins t the w i ll o f the na t ion .This has be en conf irme d by .the whole course o f deve lopments inGreece fo r t he pa s t two year s a nd to this day .

2. Fa ls ifica tion of the Gre e k Ele ctionsThe repre se n ta t ives o f the Tsa ldar is - Sophoulis Gove rnme nt

wa n t u s to be lieve tha t t he ir s is a r ep re se n ta t ive Governme n t en joy ing the Gree k na t ion’s t rus t . They re fe r to the e lect ions o f Apr i l , 1946 , as a resu l t o f which Tsaldar i s and company havecome to power .

Bu t was i t no t t he p resen t P remier Sophou l i s who in March ,1946, on the eve of the elect ions, declared that “according tonformat ion ar r iv ing f rom the four corners o f Greece , nobody ,

wi th the excep t ion of the Royal i s t s , was f ree to make nominaions and express op in ions ”? And d id no t the Vice- Premiers o f ha t t ime , Kap ha nda r is a nd Tsouderos , res ign because they cou ld

no t ag ree w ith the e lec t ion madnes s , w ith Kapha nda r is dec la r ingha t t he Greeks were “ rap id ly s l id ing down towards tha t s t a t e

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of affa i rs in which the e lect ions would become a farce ,” and thatt he s i t ua t i on w a s “ p r e gna n t w i t h t r e m e ndous da nge r ” ?

This was a pub l ic s t a t eme nt , and by w hom? It was made bythe t hen Pr ime Min i s t e r and p re sen t P r ime Min i s t e r o f Greece ,Sophoul i s , and hi s two deput ies , Kaphandar i s and Tsouderos .

The then Minis te r of the In te r ior , Havinis , descr ibed thee lec t ion in t he Epirus a s “no th ing o the r t ha n no mina t ions madeby Ze rvas by means o f v io lence and t e r ro r .”

Was i t not Sophoul is 'who declared—this was publ ished in thenewspaper “Es t ia” on September 7 , 1946—one week a f te r th i spuppet - show plebis c ite— tha t “only me n w ith a gui lty consc iencecan ta lk of a plebisci te , as there was no plebisci te in Greece buta p re - a r r ange d m a c h ina t i on” ?

Was it not the Londo n “T ime s ” corre sponde nt who pointe d outtha t impar t i a l obse rve rs doubted the au then t i c i t y o f t he p l eb i s

c ite , and d id not three Br it is h e ye- witnesses—me mbe rs of theexecut ive of the Br i t i sh League for Democracy in Greece , Mr.

- Dodd, M.P., Mr. Tiffany, M.P. and Mr. Solley, M.P.—in theirbook “The T ragedy of Greece” c it e nume rous fac t s o f c rude fa l s i f icat ion of the e lect ions of 1946? Among other things you wil lf ind the fol lowing l ines:

“We Socialis ts in Gree ce a re c ompr omis e d by his (Be vin’s)policy, as the people say to us: ‘If you are of Bevin’s party, wecannot jo in you’ , and they turn more to the le f t . The vic tory of Br i t i sh Labour in the Genera l E lec t ion was a day of jubi la t ionto a l l of us in Greece . But s lowly, day by day, we have beendisappointed. The presence of Br i t i sh t roops has caused a mora lde te r iora t ion in Greece in . the a t t i tude towa rds .Gre a t Br ita in ,and the fr iendly feel ing of the last 200 years is now at i t s lowestpo i n t ” .

The authors of the book cont inue: “Also speaking to us of thee lec t ions , ex- Premier Sophoul is s a id : ‘Mr. Be vin kne w fr om thein forma t ion tha t I gave h im tha t t he e l ec t ion would re su l t i n avic tor y for the e xt re me r ight . I a lso to ld h im th a t the f ir s t ac t ion

the e x t reme r igh t wo uld t ake wo uld be t o re s to re the k ing . ’ ”The Br it is h M.P. ’s conc luded: “T hro ugho ut our v i s it we fou ndtha t wi th t he excep t ion o f t he ex t reme r igh t wing eve rybodysa id t ha t t he e lec t ion was ca r r i ed t h roug h by means o f fo rge ry ,per jury , t e r ror i sm, assass ina t ion and every poss ible form of cor rup t p rac t i ce” .

Referr ing to the p lebisc i te the authors of the book record aqu i t e impor t an t i n t e rv i ew wi th Sophoul i s , 'who was t hen a t t hehead of the Greek Government , as he i s now.

Quot ing Sophoulis , t he t h re e au thors sa id t h a t he ha d re ached

agre eme nt w i th Be vin to - hold a p lebis c ite two years la te r , in1948, s ince o therwise re ac t ion wo uld t r ium ph an d a “ reac t ionar ys ta te ” wou ld be e s tablishe d.

Mr Sophoul is said according to the three Bri t ish authors: “I



i s word and ins i s t on the second par t of the programme—theate f ixe d for the plebiscite . I f not , I fe ar the da nge r of c ivil war .should l ike to convey to Mr. Bevin, i f he remembers me and

oves Greece , tha t he mus t keep to the agreement as regards thelebisci te” .

Such is the s tory of these “elect ions,” in which, according to

he figures of the Gre e k Minis t r y of the Inte r ior , 1 ,117,000 peopleart icipated out of a total of 2;211,000 enti t led to vote, while,094,000 abstained from voting.Such i s the resu l t o f the es tab l i shment of order in Greece by

he Br it is h mi li t a r y au thor it ie s .The exper ience of these “democrat ic” elect ions in Greece

nder the surve i l l ance of fore ign forces now inspi res Mr .Marsha l l in re la t ion to Korea .

Judg ing by Mr . Aus t in’s le t t e r to Mr . Lee conce rn ing Korea ,he Un it ed S t at e s Gover nmen t p roposes t o w ithd r aw the Ame r i an forces f rom Kore a a fte r the e lec t ions there and the form at ion

f a Kore an na t iona l gove rnmen t . I n o the r words , t he Amer i canGove rnme nt in ten ds to car ry th ro ugh e lec t ions in Kor e a a f te rhe Greek model under cover of i t s a rmed forces . Indeed , a badx amp le is re ad ily followe d.How, then , can the Gree k repre se nta t ive re fer wi th abs olu te

omposur e to these so- called elect ions in orde r to prove the legi ima te a nd democ ra t ic na tur e of the Tsa ldar is - Sophoulis Gover n

ment , which i s so s tubbornly pa t ronised by the Amer ican andr i t i sh Governmen t s and aga ins t wh ich t he Greek peop l e a r e

ight ing so manful ly and heroical ly?In connec t ion wi th the h i s tory of the Greek ques t ion I have

o re cal l th a t in 1946, addre ss ing the Se cur ity Counc il, Mr. Be vina id tha t as soon as the y ha d fu lf ille d the ir p ledges towards the

Greek Governmen t t he i r t r oops wou ld be wi thd rawn and t heywo uld not c rea te any danger or cause a nxie ty to any o the r na t ion .

Al though no explana t ion was g iven as to the prec i se content sf these pledges, the Soviet delegat ion in view of this s ta tementec la red tha t , gu ide d by the des ire for co- opera t ion, i t agreed

hat the d i scuss ion of the Greek ques t ion should be cons idered 'losed wi th the Chai rman’s s ta tement , wi thout adopt ing any for

m a l re solut ion. The: Soviet de le gat ion dee med it poss ible to agreeha t t he who le ma t t e r shou ld be lim i t ed t o an in fo rm a l s t a t emen t

y the Ch ai rm an of the Sec ur ity Counci l— at tha t t ime it was theAus t r a l i an de l ega t e Mr . Mak in—and tha t t h i s s t a t emen t shou ld

ay tha t in v iew of the Br it is h Gove rnm e nt ’s promise to wi thdr awts forces f rom Greece a t the ear l i es t poss ib le da te the subjec thould be cons idered c losed a t tha t meet ing . And i t was morer l ess in th i s sp i r i t tha t the d i scuss ion of the Greek ques t ion

he n ended. ,,

3. T e r r o r is t R e g im e a nd Fo r e i gn T r o ops in Gr e e c e

More than twelve months have now e lapsed . Br i t i sh forces

75



re ma in in Greece to th is day and have been re in fo rce d by Am e r ic an ins t ruc to r s and mi l i t a ry and o the r expe r t s . Fa r f rom improving, the s i tua t ion in Greece has de te r iora ted even fur ther .Civi l war i s raging there .

I mus t ca l l the Gene ra l Ass e mbly’s a t ten t ion to a le t te r fro m

the cent ra l board of the “Greek Nat iona l Sol idar i ty ,” sent las tAugus t to the U.N. Se cre ta r ia t . I t is a . ve r itab le c ry for he lpcoming f rom the de pths of the ' aching hear t s of Gree k pa t r io t sappea l ing to the Uni ted Nat ions organisa t ion for pro tec t ionaga ins t t e r ro r i sm and the savage massac re s o f t he f ine s t Greek men and women . In th i s l e t t e r t he cen t ra l boa rd o f t he “Greek Na t iona l So l ida r i ty” repor t ed tha t t he Greek Gove rnment had

, re ce nt ly arre ste d 25,000 c it izens an d de porte d the m to a rugg e dba rr e n i s land in the Aege an, to jo in anothe r 7 ,000 exiles b ro ughtthere a t an ea r lie r da te . Ica r ia Is lan d as we ll as the is lands of

Lemnos and Anaph i a re j ammed wi th ex i l e s . Ar re s t ed peop lewere le f t on the ba r r en rocks of Ps y ta l e ia whe re they a re dy ingby the hundr e d fro m s t a r va t ion . We were ab le to le a rn f rom tha tle t te r tha t up to 50 ,000 men and women a re languishing in ja i l sand e x ile i n Greece , and ha lf o f t he m have bee n expe c t ing t r ia lfor over two years .

Assass ina t ions of pr i soners by gangs te rs f rom the Right i s tcamp a re qui te f requent , a s , for ins tance , in Nigr i ta and a number of towns in Cre te and Macedonia .

The le t t e r f r om the cen t ra l boa r d speaks o f sys t e ma t ic who le

sa le cour t m a r t i a l execu t ions , and a sks fo r t he huma ne in t e rve n t ion of the U.N. organisa t ion in th i s mat te r .

How, then , cou ld the Gre ek re p re s en ta t ive da re to dec la re inComm it te e No. 1 th a t Gree ce is a mo de l of democr acy, a cou ntrywhe re democra cy flour ishes ? Here is de mocracy for yo u—50,000 exi les and wholesale beat ings and massacres of Greek pa t r io t s , de sc r ibed by the cen t ra l boa rd o f t he “Greek Na t iona lSol idar i ty .”

We cannot ignore th i s document , t e s t i fy ing to indescr ibablet e r r o r r e ign ing in Greece unde r t he p re se n t po l it ic a l reg ime .

Gre ece ’s pos it ion in te rn a t iona lly becomes incr ea s ingly confused , a nd s pea king f ra nk ly , the chie f re s pons ib ility for th i s res t sw ith the Unit ed S ta t e s and Gre a t Br it a in a s t he mot iva t ing fo rceof Greece’s pol icy. On the American Government’s ini t ia t ive weare aga in compel led to de lve in to th i s i ssue , but th i s t ime f roma di f fe rent angle , which unfor tuna te ly presents the i ssue in anut te r ly d is tor ted , ups ide- down ma nne r . T he Sovie t de lega t ionwould be fa i l ing in i t s duty to the Uni ted Nat ions organisa t ionand to the whole wor ld i f i t d id not ca l l a t ten t ion to th i s aspec to f t he ma t t e r .

In sp ite of the Br i t is h Gove rn me nt ’s promis e to wi thd r aw it sforces f rom Greece as soon as Grea t Br i ta in had fu l f i l l ed i t spledges, these forces s t i l l remain in Greece, while the referenceto Bri ta in’s pledges to Greece has proved to be a discredi ted



bi l l which the s ignatory had and s t i l l has no in ten t ion of pa ying. Me an wh ile, the offens ive a gainst t he .democratic forcesin Greece has increased . The in ternal s i tuat ion has reached theutmost tens ion . The former head of an Amer ican Miss ion inGreece, Mr. Porter , speaking of this tension, recently publiclydescribed i t as a “deep sense of national hopelessness.” He saidtha t the r eason fo r i t was tha t power was in the hands o f a“ s m a ll m er c an t ile an d b an k in g cab a l . . . . d e t e r m in ed abo ve a llto pro tect i ts f inancial p rerogat ives , a t whatever expense to theeconomic heal th of the country .”

Th is pub l ic s ta temen t by an au tho r i ta t ive Amer ican abou tGree ce a lso e xplains how s k i lfu lly the Br i t is h have u t ilis e d thesequa lit ies o f the p resen t - day Gre ek Gover nme n t fo r p romot ingtheir own in teres ts . Among o ther th ings , “ the Br i t ish formula ,”Por te r wrote in “Collie r’s ,” “was a lwa ys co llabo ra tion w ith thenat ive ru l ing c lasses—buying their suppor t by conf irming them

in the ir powe r to e xplo it the masses , and re ly ing on them to holdthe peop le down wi th gendarmer ie and wh ips . ”

Such is the l ine of Brit ish policy in Greece. I t is aimed atc rush ing the democra t ic movemen t and bo ls te r ing up the r eac t iona ry groups which got ho ld of the he lm of powe r ow ing to thesuppor t r endered by the Ang lo - Amer ican m i li ta r y a dmin is t r a t ion

in Greece. This course has br ought about— and i t could not havebeen o therwise—such a s i tuat ion that now only a “miracle ,” as

ce r ta in Ame r ican pol it ic ians s ay , can s ave Greece.I do not in tend to indulge in an analys is of the nature of the

p rese n t Gree k Governme n t and a ll the c ir cumstances charac te r i s ing its domestic policies. But it is impossible to gloss over thesecircums tance s, s ince, in the Sovie t de leg ation’s opinion, t he m a insource of complicat ions in the in ternat ional arena which haveled to the d iscuss ion of the Gree k ques t ion a t the Ge ne ra l Ass embly lies in the domes tic policies of the Sophoulis - T sa ldarisGovernmen t .

Due at ten t ion was cal led to th is c i rcumstance in Commit teeNo. 1 as well.

A t a ny r a te , f rom the s ta teme n t made by the Norw eg ian de le gate on October 7 the conclus ion could be drawn that in ternalan tagonisms , were the ch ief source of the pres ent unres t inGreece. With a v iew to removing the danger to peace in that

par t o f Europe, the Norwegian delegate proposed that th ree con dit ions be fulf i l led, the f irst of which concerned the internal·

s i tuat ion in Greece and the second the withdrawal of foreign

troops from Greece.As to the la t ter condi t ion , Mr . Langhel le formulated i t thus :

“My de legat ion does not doub t tha t the difficult ie s e xisting ’ in

th is respect could be great ly a l lev ia ted i f and when the Greek

Government could , in accord with the Powers concerned , f ind

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a course fo r w i thdrawing fo re ign t roops f rom Greek t e r r i to ry . ”In spite of h is a t t itud e in Commit tee No. 1, wher e he s uppor te d

the Ame r ican a ndGre e ce accusa tions leve lled aga ins tYugos lav ia ,Bulgar ia and Albania , the French delegate , M. Delbos , refer r ing

to this quest ion, was obl iged to declare that “the sources of thed i s tu rbances which have b rough t abou t the p resen t s i tua t ion ,sh ould be looked for ins ide Gree ce he rs e lf .”

Even M. Spaa k—this s e lf- sacr ific ing advocate and a rd e nt ad mi re r o f the Amer ican charges—was bound to make the fo l low ing a dmiss ion in his s tate me nt of Octobe r 3, 1947: “I am sure t ha tthe s i tuat ion in Greece is caused by domest ic diff icul t ies resul t ing fro m po lit ical , social a nd ec onomic conflict betw e e n two larg egroups of the Greek nat ion . Consequent ly , as I have sa id , th is

accusat ion seems to me excessive.” As you see, even M. Spaak cons idered the Amer ican accusat ions excess ive .We could add othe r things, too, to M. 'Sp a a k ’s above- mentioned

s ta tement . He sa id tha t the s i tua t ion in Greece , apa r t f romdomest ic d if ficult ies , ha d bee n caused— as he p ut it in w or dy andv e r y t i m i d m a n n e r — b y “ a n u n d e n i a b l e m e a s u r e o f A m e r i c a ninter ference in the in ternal pol icy of Greece .”

The above s ta tements wi l l suf f ice to shed l ight on the t ruecauses of the so- called Gre e k ques t ion , w hich has now as sumed

an acu te fo rm and a t t r ac ted the se r ious a t t en t ion o f the Uni tedNat ions organisa t ion .

4. Jug g lin g with Facts an d “Ex ploits ” of the

Anglo- Fre nch- American Bloc

Never the less the Amer ican and Br i t i sh de lega t ions havespare d no ef for t to d is tor t the Gre e k issue here , and to repre se nti t in an absolute ly fa lse l ight . This becomes par t icular ly c learwhen we cons ider the proceedings in Commit tee No. 1 wi th re gard to the Greek ques t ion . And th is i s bound to convince anyimpar t i a l pe r son as to the a r t i f i c i a l i ty and f raudu len t na tu re o f th is e nt ire in t r igue . We declare , a nd no s pec ia l e ffor ts a re neces sary to prove i t , tha t the whole of th is a t tempt to present theGre ek ques t ion a t the Ge ne ra l Ass em bly in the fo rm of an accusa t ion of Yugo s lavia , Bulga r ia a nd Alba nia thre a te ning the pol it ica lindepe ndence and t e r r ito r ia l in te gr i ty o f Greece , is b u t a puppe tshow, a poor ly concocted piec e of pol it ica l buffoonery.

Eve ry thing we obs erve d in Commit te e No. 1 dur ing th e d is cus

s ion of the Greek ques t ion—the arguments , the cons idera t ionsand p roofs mus te re d by the Ame r ican de le ga t ion aga ins t Yugo s lavia , Bulga r ia an d Alba nia , the s hady s tory of a cha nge of one



ca t ion fo r a con t ro l commiss ion , the var ious manoe uvres launche dby the Ame r ican de lega t ion to ach ieve i ts m a in a im, wh ich wasthe es tabl ishment of a control commission—all th is helped todisclose the sum and substance of th is whole matter , to d isc losethe t rue a ims pursued now as before by the Uni ted S ta tesGo v e rn me n t in r a i s in g the Gre e k q u e s t ion a t t h e p r e se n t Ge n e ra l

Assembly. Obviously th is a im consis ts in a t tacking Yugoslavia ,Bulgar ia and Albania pol i t ica l ly , accusing them of v iola t ingin te rna t iona l law and endanger ing the po l i t ica l independenceand te r r i to r ia l in tegr i ty o f Greece , hop ing the reby to jus t i fyAme r ican in te rve n t ion in Gree k a f fa ir s , s t re ng then the bas is fo rsuch in te rve n t ion , and exonera te in the eyes o f wo r ld pu b lic op in ion the “ass is tance” rende re d by the Uni ted S tates toGreece, which is convert ing Greece in to an American base .

Further , I would l ike to deal as br ief ly as possible with factswh ich, I hope, w ill suffice to prove ho w ar t i fic ia l and u njus t , howdelibe rate and inf la te d , are the accusat ions a gainst Yugos lavia ,Bulgar ia and Albania , and, on the contrary , how suff ic ient are

the g rounds fo r' the submiss ion o f the dem ands to Greece fo rm ula ted in the Soviet draf t resolut ion, and las t ly , to show the realmot ives and t rue p lans which gu ide , and which a r t pursued bythe Uni ted S ta tes , in accord wi th Br i ta in and ' those reac t ionarygroups in Greece on which they re ly in th i s respec t in the i rpol ic ies towards Greece,■ Yugos lav ia , Bu lgar ia and Alban ia a re accused by the Am e r i

can and Greek Governments o f endanger ing the independenceand te r r i to r ia l in tegr i ty o f Greece .

How are these accusat ions proved? We were offere d f irs t of a l lthe tes t imonies of witnesses , secondly some mater ia l evidence,

news paper a r t ic les , news paper repor t s a bou t s ta tements made bypoli t ica l leaders in Yugoslavia , Bulgar ia and Albania , as well asan in te rv iew gran te d by Mars ha l T ito on October 16.

Addre ss ing Commit tee No. 1, we a lre ady had an oppor tun ityof point ing to the inval id i ty of these proofs . We pointed to ac i rcumstance , which nobody was ab le to re fu te and which theaccusers themse lves , namely , the represen ta t ives o f the Uni tedStates , Grea t Br i ta in and Greece , da red no t re fute in par t icu la r .We re fe r red to the fa l s i f ica t ion o f ce r ta in mos t impor tan t docu ments . We deal t with the fa lse tes t imonies of cer ta in witnessesfo rced f rom the m by v io lence and to r tu res —te s t imonies b rough tin exchange fo r the life g r an ted to these wi tnesses .

I wil l not cont inue analysing a l l these tes t imonies and otherproofs , I s ha l l no t repe a t things tha t have a lre ady been sa id andwhich were confirmed by the s i lence and absence of repl ies orden ia ls f rom the ch ie f de lega t ions which- expounded the ir u t te r lyunjust i f ied accusat ions against the Governments of Yugoslavia ,Bulgar ia and Alba n ia . Ye t I am ob liged to c ite ce r ta in da ta r e la t ing to this question.

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5, T r a i t o r s , C r im in a is a n d P r o v o c a t e u r s in t h e Ro le o f

Wit n e s s e s f o r t h e P r o s e c u t io n

The Genera l Assembly shou ld know tha t the Greek Govern ment submit ted both to the Commission and to i t s auxi l ia ry

group a “White Book” in which the test imonies of 60 witnesseshe ar d unde r oath we re g iven . Twenty- s ix of these 60 witnes sesappear e d in he ar ings a t the Commis sion . Wha t k ind of witnes seswere they?

It t ranspired that ten of these witnesses, i .e . , 39 per cent . ,p roved to be per jurers who were exposed in the course of theinvest iga t ion by the i r own cont radic t ions and fa lse tes t imonies .Some o f them admi t t ed rece iv ing money f rom the Greek au tho r i t ies in payment for fa l se tes t imonies ( for ins tance , wi tnessZafiris) . Some of them, l ike Bobtsis , who on the suggest ion of the Colombian delegate Mr. Urr u t ia , was re fuse d a he ar ing a t theCommission , made nonsensica l s ta tements , cont radic t ing ob vious an d we ll- known facts ; or l ike Velianidis , who pr ove d to besuch a suspic ious char acte r t ha t the Commiss ion decided to check up on h im s pe cially. · ■ ■

Six pers ons, or 23 per cent ., wer e c omm on cr iminals a nd provo ca teurs , such as Vlachos , who had assass inated the former Mini s ter Zevgos, and Par tu las , Tsauss is and Sid i ropoulos , who werehis accomplices; Sidiropoulos, who in a let ter publ ished in the

Gre ek p ress , admi tt e d rece iv ing mone y f ro m the Greek a u thor it ies for h is fa l se tes t imony agains t Yugoslavia , Bulgar ia andAlbania ; Kontopanos , who was exposed as a provocateur by h isown bro the r ; Go loganov , who unde r the Ger mans wa s p re s iden to f a mi l i t a ry t r ibuna l and was condemned to dea th by aBulga r i an cour t fo r t reason.

Five ' persons, or 16 pe r cent ., we re me n conde mned to cap ita lp u n ish m e n t , o r w e re u n d e r t h re a t o f c a p i ta l p u n is h m e n t d u r i n gtheir , in te rr ogat ion , or gave te s t imony af ter bea t ings an d af terbe ing - subjected to tortur e . These are Ba ltador os , P at is , Zachos,

Ekonomov and Serbakov .In add i t ion to these wi tnesses , t he Greek Government p re

sen ted severa l more wi tnesses no t men t ioned in the “Whi teBook,” a considerable number of whom also proved to be per

jure rs en l is ted f rom c r iminal and cor rupt e lements to g ivetes t imony to the commission and auxi l iary group.

T hus the ove rwhe lming ma jo r ity o f witness es p res en ted by theGreek Government to confi rm the charges agains t Yugoslavia ,Bu lgar i a and Alban ia p roved to be unwor thy , co r rup t and immoral characters , provocateurs , common cr iminals , or s imply

unfor tuna te v ic t ims o f the Government t e r ro r fo rced to t e s t i fyaga ins t Yugos lav ia , Bu lgar i a and Alban ia and pay ing th i s t e r r ib l e p r i ce fo r the i r l i ves g ran ted them by the hangmen under



ateurs , common cr iminals , unfor tunate people taken ou t o f thea ng m an ’s noose , who p lea d for th e ir lives a t the p r ice o f s lander ,eache ry and t r eason , you a re asked to s t ake you r honour andour r epu ta t ion by con f i rming the co r rec tness and au then t i c i tyf these wi tnesses who appear as accusers o f Yugoslav ia , Bul a r ia and Alba n ia . No, you cannot do that , beca use th is is a case

f fals if ica t ion, be cause the re are no gro unds for accusa t ions.We asse r t t ha t t he who le a f fa ir has bee n fr a me d up in o rder t ous t i fy the necess i ty and poss ib i l i ty , expediency and lawfu lnessi the es tab l i shment o f a border commiss ion which cou ld coverp the shady af fa i rs o f those react ionary Greek groups , which

Mr. Por ter des ignated in “Collie r ’s” as “a ban king an d comme rc ia l c l ique ” wh ich p laces it s pe rs onal advantage s and in eres t s above the wel fare and in teres t s o f i t s count ry . We knowhat l a t e ly the p ress has been pub l i sh ing t e r r ib l e th ings abou the Greek Governmen t , and a l l t h i s has r emained unansweredy th is Governm e n t $nd by the Gre ek ex - P remier Tsa ldar is .

. On the o ther h and , the commis s ion he ar d more th an 100 w it esses wh om the commiss ion it s e l f p icke d ou t a mong po l it ica l andub lic leaders who were in ja i ls and conc e nt ra t ion camps, th row nhere by the Greek Governmen t , a s we l l a s among commoneople . Al l these wi tnesses no t on ly refu ted the Greek chargesu t appear ed themse lves as fo rmidab le accuser s o f t he Gree k u thor i t ies regard ing provocat ions on the borders , the persecu on of democrat ic leaders and nat ional minor i t ies , the h id ingnd s uppor t ing o f war c r imina ls and o ther t r a i to r s who ha d fledo Greece f rom Yugos lav ia , Bulgar ia an d Alba n ia . Am ong "thesei tnesses we saw p rominen t r ep resen ta t ives o f Greek po l i t i ca l

ar t ies and organ isa t ions , such as General Gr igor iad is , l eader o f he Le f t Liber a ls ; Pa par igas , leade r o f t he Gene ra l Confede ra t ionf Labour ; General Baki rd j i s ; and Hercu les Pet imezas , Pres iden tf the Union of Democrat ic Associat ions.Al l t hese men s t a t ed—and they a re no t compromised in anyay and thei r moral p rob i ty i s beyond doubt , thei r po l i t ica l

n tegr i ty i s p roved by thei r courage and s taunchness in theruggle a gains t Fasc ism and a gains t the- Royalis t - Fascis t ter ro r

on t inu ing in Greek t e r r i t o ry—tha t ne i the r Yugos lav ia no r

lban ia nor Bulgar ia i s gu i l ty o f the cr imes which are being

sc r ibed to the m; tha t re spons ib ility fo r th is res t s w i th the Gre ek

overnme n t , wh ich the Gree k peop le canno t t o le ra t e and wh ich

hey a re f igh t ing arms- in- hand , an d tha t the fu l l re spo nsib ility

es ts wi th the Br i t i sh Government . Mr . McNei l sa id that he d id

o t know how many Br i t i sh d iv is ions there were in Greece. At

ny ra te , they are there in suf f ic ien t number , to par t ic ipate

ct ively in the suppression of the democrat ic forces, whose blood

ow drenches Gre ek so il.Among the witnes se s there we re persons who tes t ified how the

reek au tho r i t i e s d i spa tched them to Bu lgar i a , Alban ia and

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Yugos lav ia fo r a rm e d s t ru gg le . aga ins t the leg i t imate Govern ments of these countr ies .

I shal l name such witnesses as Serbakov, Mustafov, Uruchev,Ba i rak ta r i , Nazmi Emin i Azemi , Teshkov , Ekonomov, Kos ta

Tessich arid others.We know these names , bu t we have neve r hea rd from ouropponen ts the names o f any witnes ses who dese rve to be t rus tedand whose tes t imony can be taken as a bas is for accusat ionsaga ins t Yugos lav ia , Alban ia and Bulgar ia , What d id happen inComm itte e No. 1? I t is quite c le ar th a t Comm itte e No. 1 could notignore these fac ts , and these fac ts cou ld no t remain unnot iceddesp ite the fac t tha t eve ry th ing was dec ided in advance , a nd tha tan Anglo - Amer ican - F rench b loc was fo rme d wh ich p rede te r mined the outcome in th is ma t t e r .

At a me e t ing of Comm it te e No. 1 te rr ib le fac ts were c ite d showing how the Gre e k au thor it ie s e x to r te d f rom witnes ses te s t imonies con ta in ing charges aga ins t Yugos lav ia , Bu lga r ia a nd A l ban ia . These fac ts were c ited f rom the p ro tocols o f the c ommis s ion and aux i l ia ry g roup . Not on ly were these fac ts no t re fu tedby the r e p re se n ta t ive s o f t he Gre ek Gove rnm e n t a nd the Unit ed ,Sta tes and Great Bri ta in , but not a s ingle , even ins ignif icantam e ndm e nt was p roposed to. th is ha ir - ra is ing tes t imony . How ever , i t was th is tes t imony of people taken out of the noose; of

ha lf- dead peop le w ho by to r tu re were m ad e to te ll e ver y th ingthe ir t o rmen to r s wa n te d the m to t e ll— i t was ju s t t h is t e s t imonywhich became the bas is , fo r the f ind ings o f the major i ty o f thecommis sion a nd the a ux il iar y group, an d these f indings we resu bmi t ted to Comm it te e No . 1 as an ind ic tm e nt aga ins t Yug o s lav ia , Bu lgar ia an d Alba n ia .

No wonde r tha t in sp ite o f a ll the pa r t ia l ity w ith wh ich ce r ta in delegat ions appr oac he d th is mat te r , a ll th is could not toutdu ly impress many de lega tes . I t was no t acc iden ta l tha t there pres en ta t ives o f these de lega t ions re fuse d to suppor t the Gree k

and Anglo- Ame r ican accusa t ions aga ins t the Gove rnme nts o f Yugos lav ia , Bu lgar ia and Alban ia . I t i s no t acc iden ta l tha t theNorwegian de lega te dec la red :

“ In my op in ion the ev idence p res en ted to the Commit te e isinsuff ic ient to permit us to es tabl ish beyond doubt that theGove rnme nts o f Yugos lav ia , Bu lga r ia and Alba n ia rendere ddirect ass is tance and support to Greek guer i l las in v io la t ion of the Cha r t e r . . . .”·

The Be lg ian represen ta t ive , M. Spaak , who zea lous ly uphe ld

the Amer ican accusa t ions , had to admi t , when speak ing o f thewitness es ’ cont ra dic to ry te s t imony, tha t these witnesse s e vide nt ly wer e no t “pillars -of socie ty”— far- fe tched, to say the leas t—and tha t the i r tes t imony could no t be taken a t i t s face va lue ,



pel led to suppor t a t any cos t the Amer ican accusa t ions aga ins tYugos lav ia , Bulgar ia and Albania could no t say more than they ,did say, as , for ins tance, the French delegate M. Delbos.

I s ha ll re cal l th a t as a res ult of the analysis of a l l k inds of evidence pre se n te d by the Ame r ican a nd Br i t is h de lega t ions aga ins tGree ce’s thre e no r th e rn ne ighbours , M. Delbos sa id the following:

“It ' se e ms to us tha t Yugos lav ia , Bulgar ia and Alba nia took some pa r t in the c iv i l war in Greece , rende r ing some ass is tance tothe guer i l las , s ince without their ass is tance the guer i l las couldno t have c ros sed t he bo rde r . ”

This i s a very charac te r is t i c s ta te me nt convic t ing it s au thor o f inde cis ion a nd doubts , e vide nt ly due to a c las h betwe en the voiceof conscience an d some other , opposing, motive s . This is w hywe see M. Delbos using such formulas as “it seems to us,” “somepa rt ,” “some ass is tance ” an d so on. Nothing def inite , no cer ta inty ,eve ry th ing bu i lt on sand. Unde rm ine d by doubts and vac i lla t ions .This, of course, is a direct result of the testimonies given by so-

ca lled witness es devoid of any mo ra l p rob i ty—tes t imonies whichwere use d bo th by the inve s t iga t ing commiss ion and the aux ilia r ygroup, as wel l as by the major i ty of Commit tee No. 1 ,

The accusers say: The guer i l las received some assis tance onthe par t o f Yugos lav ia , Bulgar ia and Albania , bu t they do no tsay exac t ly what k ind of ass i s tance i t was . Indeed , the Yugos lavs permi t ted guer i l l as to en te r the i r t e r r i to ry and renderedmedical a id to the wounded. Well , does M. Delbos regard this asa violat ion of internat ional law? Is i t not the sacred r ight of anyState to gr an t re fuge in i ts te rr itor y to pol it ical advers ar ies of theGovernment aga ins t which they a re f igh t ing a t home, to d ress

the ir wounds i f they a re b lee d ing , to g ive the m bre ad i f they a rehungr y , to give the m wate r if they a re th i r s ty? Does th is cons t itu te a violat ion of inte rn at ion al law of which Commit tee No.. 1accuses these three States?

No, ut ter ing these words, M. Delbos proved that he has doubts ,that he is vaci l la t ing, that he is not convinced of the gui l t of Yugos lav ia , Bulgar ia and Albania . But he cannot ac t o therwise ,s ince, according to a Lat in proverb, “The fates lead the wil l ingand drag the unwil l ing.” M. Delbos had to say: We vote becausewe mus t—jus t as t he pa r ro t s a id whe n it was d r agged a long bythe cat: We go bec ause we mus t. T hus M. Delbos , too, has .to.“go,” and he votes for the American resolut ion. He introduces ,moreove r , an amendmen t wh ich s ays t ha t on t he one hand hecannot bu t ' acknowledge and on the o ther ha nd he ca nnot bu tadm it , or , in othe r words, he wa nts to have his cake a nd eat it .

Indeed, is i t possible to substant ia te charges of violat ion of in te rna t iona l l aw aga ins t Governments by such cons idera t ionsas gu ide the Fre nch de lega te , who adm its tha t s ometh ing “seems”to him, and who only bel ieves that there exis ts a possibi l i ty of such v io la t ions of in te rna t iona l l aw, concern ing which chargesare p res en ted off- hand by the accusers?

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De al ing w ith the witnes se s on whose tes t imony a li these m on s t rous charges are base d, we s aid in Com mit te e No. 1; “ the w i t nesses you have ca l led a re not t rus twor thy .” The fac t tha t themajor i ty of these wi tnesses , or a t leas t some of theni , on whosetes t imony these charges a re based , do not me r i t t rus t , was a d

mit te d by other delegates as we ll, even by M. Spaak. We propose dtha t our adversar ies name a t l eas t a dozen or so wi tnesses whowould be i r r ep roachab le o r a t l ea s t f r ee f rom the g rave susp i c ions of a dis hones t a t t i tude tow ard s the ir dut ie s as witnes se s , aswas t he case r ega rd ing the ma jo r i t y o f t he wi tnes ses p resen t edby the Gre ek Gove rnme nt . Fa r fro m he a r ing a dozen , we f a ile d t ohe ar a s ingle na me of s uch a witness , a lthoug h we repe a te d lymade th i s demand .

Commit tee No. 1, w hich discus s ed the Gree k que s t ion for more

than two weeks , had of course enough t ime to poin t ou t suchwi tnesses and to check th i s mat te r wi th a l l ca refu lness and inevery detai l . The major i ty of Commit tee No' . 1 in general prefernot to go too deeply into this mat ter , “not to plunge,” as Mr.McNei l f rankly admit ted, “ into a fog of detai l .”

In Committe e No. 1 they t r ie d to pers uade us to t rus t the commiss ion, not because this commission was very good, thoughMr. McNei l assured us tha t i t was very good, bu t because th i scommis s ion inc lude d a f r ie nd of h is , a very n ice m an . I a m

qui te wi l l ing to bel ieve that he is a very nice man, Mr. McNei l ;as the sa y ing has i t : “Show me y our c ompa ny and I ’l l t e ll youw ha t you are .” . ·

Never theless , I should l ike to see facts , I should l ike to readthe witness es ’ t es t imony, I s hould like to know w ha t k ind of wi tnes ses t hey a r e , no t co r rup ted and no t mut i l a t ed by a Greek pr i son . But such da ta a re l acking . We are to ld : the Secur i ty 'Counci l appoin ted a commiss ion which formed an auxi l i a rygro up; it d id s ome thing, saw so me thing, we s hould t rus t it , and

Commit tee No. 1 wi thout going into detai l , should reach a deci s ion and submit i t to the Assembly. The Assembly also shouldt rus t Co mmit tee No. 1, s ince i t is h a r d ly poss ible for the . Ass e mblyto go thoroughly in to th i s mat te r . We gave the names of thefa lse witnes se s , we wa ite d three weeks for the accusers to nam ehones t , t rus twor thy wi tnesses . To th i s day they have not doneth is , because h ad the y bee n ab le to do so; the y w ould have doneit long ago , w ould have pressed home the ir charges and not ha vereplaced them by new ones , as Mr . Johnson d id in Commit tee

No. 1, as was done by the w hole gr oup of Br i t is h , Am e r ic an a ndFre nch de lega t ions .What , then , was the resu l t? A major i ty of the commiss ion ,

ha ving adopte d a non cr it ica l non objec t ive a nd pa r t i a l a t t i tude



Gene ra l Asse mbly, w ithout p lung ing “ into a fog of de ta i l,” shouldtrust Committee No. 1—and th is is descr ibed as an invest igat ionof the matter . I t is h igh t ime to recal l the great Cicero and hiss t inging words: “o tempo ra , .o more s!”

T h a t ’s h o w th e m a t t e r s t a n ds w ith r e g a r d to t he se w itne s se sfor the prosecut ion. The Soviet delegat ion, as well as a numberof o ther de lega t ions which opposed the Amer ican charges andthe Amer ican reso lu t ion based on these charges , p roposed tha tthese charges be discarded as unjust i f ied by the actual facts , asno t made in good fa ith and conse quen t ly , no t des e rv ing suppor tin def iance o f fac ts con t rad ic t ing them. O n the o ther ha nd , Commit tee No. 1 was confronted w ith the faul t les s te s t imony of therepresen ta t ives o f va r ious Greek democra t ic pa r t ies , the tes t i mo ny of Gree k patr io ts , of the f inest re pre se ntat ives of the Gree k people , who mainta ined f i rmness of spir i t and courage even into r tu re chambers , in concen t ra t ion camps and gao ls , and whosubmit ted incontrovert ib le proof of the responsibi l i ty of theGree k au thor i tie s fo r the inc iden ts on the border and fo r send

ing their agents and the agents of react ionary pol i t ica l enemiesof the Gover nments o f Yugos lav ia , Bu lga r ia a nd Alba n ia in to theterr i tory of these countr ies .

Relying on th is evidence, the Soviet delegat ion insis ted on anappropr ia te in te r p re ta t ion o f the ac t ions o f the Gree k au thor irt ies . This was not accepted by the major i ty in Committee No. 1 ,despi te the weighty proofs of the jus t ice and soundness of theSoviet delegation’s case.

We now appeal to the General Assembly on th is quest ion. Andshould we fa i l to f ind the necessary support there , our voice indefence of t r u t h and just ice w ill not be s i lenced. Our voice againstfaked and a r t i f ic ia l charges wi l l be heard by the en t i re wor ldand wil l f ind a ready response in the hear ts of mil l ions of common peop le th roughout the wor ld . The t ru th canno t be h iddenby any a r t i f ic ia l reso lu t ions o r by any major i ty vo te . ' I t wi l lwi ths tand a l l d i s to r t ions and wi l l t r iumph .

6. , Fo rg e ry o f D o c u m e n t s

' Toge ther w ith the witness es ’ te s t imony, o ther evidence , too,was mus te red aga ins t the Governments o f Yugos lav ia and Bul gar ia . For ins tance , the y invente d a m ili tar y s chool for guer i llasa t the Bulkes and Rubig camps . In connec t ion wi th these campsthere was ga there d the te s t imony o f some witness es , mos t ly from

among those me nt ioned above and undese rv ing fu r the r me nt ion .The f indings of the major i ty of the commission on th is subjectsay:

“The commiss ion heard the tes t imony o f severa l wi tnessesto the effect tha t in the s pring of 1946 spe cial courses for g ue rillaleaders were es tab l i shed in the re fugee camp a t Bu lkes (Yugo s lavia) for the purpose of g iving theoret ical and pract ical in s t ruc t ion in guer i l la war fa re to Greek re fugees .”



“T h e te s t im o ny o f s e v e r a l w it ne s s e s .” . . . . T h e m a j o r it y inthe ir re por t d id no t even t roub le to nam e these witness es , d id no tbo ther to say how many wi tnesses the re were—two or 22 , wha tkind of witnesses they were , could they be t rus ted , what exact ly

d id these witness es s ta te . The m a jor ity re por t says no th ing abou tth is . Nor was any th ing added to the repor t by the Amer ican andBri t ish accusers in Com mit te e No. 1. One c annot ia i l to notice ,however , tha t the wi tnesses who tes t i f ied regard ing a mi l i ta ryschool a t the Bulkes camp, such as Kontopanos, ac tual ly gavefalse te s t imony, the fa ls i ty of w hich is s e lf- evident . For ins ta nce ,wi tness Kontopanos tes t i f ied tha t a t the Bulkes mi l i ta ry schoo lspec ia l a t t en t ion was pa id to t r a in ing in moun ta in wa r fa re andtha t such t r a in ing in m oun t a in wa r fa re was g iven in the v illageof Bulke s an d its v ic in ity . Howe ver , i t can be prove d qui te e as ily

tha t the v illage o f Bulkes is s itua te d in the b roa d P an non va lley ,on a p la in which s t re tches fo r hundreds o f k i lomet res , wherethe re a r e no mo un ta in s and consequen t ly no moun t a in thea t r e inwhich one cou ld g ive “ ins t ruc t ion in mounta in war fa re .” Butthe pe r ju re r s and the i r advoca te s a r e unabashed by th i s . T heyare a lso unabas he d by the fac t tha t the commis s ion it s e l f hadto a dm it tha t “dur ing the ir v is it to ' th e Bulkes camp, on Ap r i l 2,1947 ( I am quo t ing f rom the docume nt know n as the ma jor ityfindings of the co mmiss ion) the com mis s ion failed, to find an y

proof o f mi l i ta ry opera t ions o r o f mi l i ta ry t ra in ing conduc tedfor th is purpose .”

As proo f of the exis tence of a m ili ta r y school in Bulkes , themajor i ty repor t a l so c i ted the fo l lowing fac t : the commiss ionrece ived a copy o f a mi l i ta ry manua l fo r ins t ruc t ion in guer i l latac t ics . Some of the witnesses tes t i f ied that th is “manual” wasused a t the Bulkes schoo l as a tex tbook . There appeared evenone wi tness—a Greek re fugee who tes t i f ied tha t in the summerof 1945 he took par t in wri t ing th is manual , together with 45officers in Rubig.

We have no t th i s “manua l” a t our d isposa l . In genera l , a s i sevident f rom the f indings of the major i ty of the commission, i thad a t i ts d isposal only one copy and even th is lapked the t i t le ,page and, consequent ly , gave no indicat ion as to where , whenand fo r wh a t purposes th is so - called m a nu a l was pub lis he d . Asuppleme nt to one o f the documents o f the m ajor ity o f the commiss ion conta ins a so- called s um ma ry of th is m a nua l, consis t ingof 64 points . I f one s tudies c losely th is “manual summary” oneeanno t bu t no t ice the fac t t ha t the en t ir e conten t of t h is “ma nu a l”

makes i t leas t of a l l su i table as a textbook for guer i l las . Indeed,in th is s um ma ry we f ind the fo l low ing divis ions:

1. “His tor ica l Deve lopm e nt of the Ar m y .” In the hec t ic per iod



s t ra tegy and tac t ics o f modern a rmies in the course of ac tua ls t ruggle aga ins t re gu la r a rmies .

3. “Armaments o f Modern Armies .”4. “Airforce.”6. “Aspec ts o f In fa n t r y F igh t ing .”7. “Exchange of Fire , Marching, Bat t lef ie ld .”

•8. “Missions, etc.”- 11. ‘-‘Mob ilis e d Unit s .”

17. “Soldiers Tasks in Bat t le .”21. “Organisa t ion and Armaments o f Uni t s , f rom Sec t ion up

to Bat ta lion .”51. “Movement o f Supply Tra in Dur ing Bat t le .”58. “Artille r y , et c.”Is i t not c lear , f rom this enumerat ion alone, to people having

the s l ightest idea of the condi t ions of guer i l la combat l i fe , thatthis “manual” is worthless to guer i l las , that th is “manual” isra ther adapted for use by the commanding personne l o f regu la r

armies and not by guer i l la uni ts? And f inal ly , i f there real lywere such a tex tbook and i f i t r ea l ly were c i rcu la ted in theBulkes and Rubig camps, is i t possible that there was only onecopy of it in c i rculat ion? An d las t ly , even i f such a tex tbook wascomp iled by inte rne d guer i llas ke pt in Yugos lav camps, wha t hasthe Yugos lav Governme nt to do w i th th is? Is i t no t know n tha tin camps, gaols, fortresses and other places of confinement, energet ic pe ople have always succeeded in ; re ading, s tudy ing andteach ing o thers beh ind the back of the adminis t ra t ion of theplaces of confinement? And yet th is “manual” f igures as evi dence, proving that the Yugoslav Government is gui l ty of ass is t

ing the s t ruggle of the Gre ek gue r i llas against the Gree k Gove rnment . However absurd th i s accusa t ion may be , i t was made .I t is s uff ic ient to me nt ion these quest ions to re fute a l l th at was

sa id about the m ilit a ry ma nua l fo r guer illas which , accord ing to“ the pre face to the manual ,” was drawn up by a g roup of 45officers, and then submitted to some kind of Control commissionof five members elected from among the officers, on the suggest ion of “ the bure au for t ra in ing in s t ra tegy for comrades .” Natu ra l ly , th i s “pre face” repea ted ly ment ions the word “comrades”and invar iably in quotat ion marks. This word is obviously usedin order to lend a Communist complexion to the ent i re textbook as is specified in the following passage from this “preface”:

“The above course was ta ug ht a nd is s t il l be ing taug ht to ‘comrade s’ be longing to the Gre ek Com mun is t group in Rubig.” Is itno t too c rude and c lumsy , th i s fo rgery produced by the Greek authori t ies as evidence of Yugoslav, Bulgar and Albanian ass is t ance to the guer i llas in the ir s t ruggle aga ins t the Gree k Gover n men t?

I t seems tha t the Gree k accusers have over - reached the mselves ........

Now I sha ll t ake up the ques t ion of the th re a t to the te r r i to r ia l



integri ty of Greece. To prove the exis tence of such a threat onthe par t of Yugoslavia , Bulgar ia and Albania the accusers c i tedse vera l passages f rom the s ta teme nts of var ious pol it ica l leaderson the unif ica t ion of a ll the Mace don ian people und e r the aegis of

Yug os lav ia , a nd c ite d also Mar s ha l T ito’s inte rv ie w on thisquestion.

The charge of a thr e a t to Greece ’s te r r itor ia l in te gr ity i s s implya r idiculous one. I t has be e n prov e d in Committee No, 1 th a t thewords a sc r ibed b y the Gre e k . Governme nt and in pa r t i cu la r byTsaldaris , to Marshal Tito in his interview of October 16, werefa ls i f ied, tha t in fac t Marsha l Ti to never sa id what was ascr ibedto him by Tsa ldar is , who wi thout any compunct ion de le ted onesentence f rom Marsha l Ti to’s in te rview and subs t i tu ted i t wi th

another , which gave the inte rview qui te a di f fe rent meaning,the one wante d by T sa ldar is for the purpose of his accusa t ions .How unfounded was th i s cha rge i s ev ident f rom the fac t tha t

even the ma jor ity of the commiss ion a dmit te d tha t no th ing couldbe foun d to s uppor t th is nonse ns ica l, accusa t ion, except quo ta t ions f rom the s ta tements of cer ta in individua ls and f rom thepress . The major i ty of the commiss ion did not venture to asser ttha t the Yugos lav and Bulga r ian Governments had rea l lydire c ted the Mac e don ian mo ve me nt an d ha d to confine it s e l f to areference to an a r t ic le in the Comm unis t news pape r “Robotnich-

escko Delo” which ha i led the es tabl ishment of the MacedonianRepubl ic wi th in the f ramework of the Yugos lav Fede ra t ion .Moreover , i t was es tabl ished tha t in Yugoslavia dur ing the Ger ma n occupa t ion , the re ope ra ted a Macedo nian na t iona l is t o r gan isa t ion which , w i th the t e rmina t ion of the German occupa t ion , went und e rgr ound a nd fought aga ins t the Yugos lav Govern me nt. At the t r ia l in Skop lje in Fe br uar y, 1947, it was es tablishe dtha t th is Fasc is t autonomis t Macedonian organisa t ion, washea de d by a col labor a tor of Pave lic , Vancho Mikha ilof f , tha t th isorganisa t ion mainta ined contac t wi th reac t ionary c i rc les in

Greece , tha t bands of these Macedonian Fasc is ts were sent f romGreece to Yugoslavia to f ight aga ins t the Yugoslav Governmentof the People’s Front in order to establish, as test if ied by thewitness Trenceff , an autonomous Macedonia under Br i t i sh andAmerican aegis .

I t was a lso es tabl ished, tha t in Greece a bruta l te r ror waswage d aga ins t the Slavo- Mace donian minor i ty , who ha d to fleeby the thousand to Yugoslavia , Albania or Bulgar ia , in order toescape the dea th which awa i ted them in Greece . Even the

major i ty of the commiss ion had to conf i rm tha t i t was jus t r th isreg ime of t e r ror in Greece w hich b ro ught about the d is tu rbancesand d isconten t on the p a r t o f the S lav minor ity in Gree k Mace donia , c re a t ing favo urab le g round for a s epa ra t is t moveme nt .



However , the commission fa i led to pay any at tent ion1to theind ispu ta b le fac t o f Gree k c la ims to Bulga r ian and Alba nian te r r i to r ies . The te r r i to r ia l c la ims of the Tsa ldar i s Government onBu lga r ia , were no t conf ined to speeches and pa mphle t s whichwere qu ite p len t i fu l in Greece , bu t took a ve ry pr ac t ica l fo rmwhen a t the Par i s conference under the pre tex t o f rec t i fy ing the

border , Tsa ldar i s demanded the incorpora t ion in to Greece of near ly , one- quar ter of the te rr i tory of Bulga r ia . I quoted in Commit tee No. 1 the speech del ive re d by Ts aldar is in Salonika onJune . 10, 1946, a nd I mus t re pe at it now. T s aldaris s aid:

“Our na t iona l c la ims a re no t re s t r ic ted to te r r ito r ies recognisedin in te rna t iona l documents , as wel l as f rom h is to r ica l and lega lviewpoints as belonging to Greece. Our r ights to these terr i tor iesare c lear to a l l . The Dodecanese Archipelago, Northern Epirusand the se cur ity o f our fron t ie r s cannot sa t i s fy us . There a re o therGreek te r r i to r ies which a re ind ispu tab ly Greek , s i tua ted in thesouth and in the nor th . Our c la ims beg in in the nor th and a re

a imed a t accompl ish ing the c re a t ion of our na t iona l S ta te a nd a tthe s olution of the pr oble m of l iving space. . . .” (T his quo ta tionis taken from the newspaper “To Fos” of June 12, 1946,)

He was seconded by members o f the Greek Par l iament , suchas Diakovu, who also insisted on “rectif ication” of the frontier,th re a te n ing Bulgar ia w ith the loss o f a la rge pa r t o f her t e r r i to ry .

I t i s a lso a fact that in June, 1946, Tsaldar is approached theYugoslav delegates a t the Par is conference with a proposal toreac h agre eme nt on the d iv is ion of Alban ia be twee n Greece andYugoslavia .

These facts cannot be concealed. They indicate the exis tence

of a re a l th re a t to Bulgar ia a nd Alba nia on the pa r t o f Gre ek expansionis ts , who dream of the par t i t ion of Albania , or of theanne xa t ion of cons iderab le te r r i to ry f rom Bulgar ia .

The a r t i f i c ia l na ture o f the charges aga ins t Yugos lav ia , Bul gar ia and Alba nia , o f a t tem pt ing to d isme mbe r Greece and a nnexpar t o f her t e r r i to ry , was so obvious tha t th roughout the meet ings of Commit tee No. 1 this charge was apparent ly forgot tenand ne ither the Ame r ican de lega t ion nor even the repres en ta t ivesof the Tsa ldar i s Government ven tured to ins i s t upon or suppor tthis nonsensical charge. You wil l no longer f ind this charge inthe re so lut ion re comme nded by Commit tee No. 1. Thus collapse dthis house of cards of Anglo- Greece - American charges—nons ens ical , absurd and unjust .

-!7. Collapse of the Anglo- Amer ican Accusat ions . The U.S.A.

C o v e r s u p t h e T r a c e sIs i t then surpr is ing that , consider ing al l these c i rcumstances ,

conf ron ted by nume rous fa lse witnesses , unde rha nd t r icks , fo rgeddocuments , crude dis tor t ions a nd misre pre se ntat ions , fa lsegene ra lisa t ions uns ubs tan t ia ted by any da ta a nd exaggera t ions ,confron ted by a l l these obvious ly t rum pe d up accusa t ions , ma ny

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delega tes even f rom among those who meekly take the i r l eadfrom, the Ame r ican de lega t ion , pause d and hes ita ted and re fuse dto suppor t the formulas p roposed by the Amer ican , Br i t i sh andGreek delegat ions?

The Norwe g ian r e p re s en ta t ive dec la r ed ou t r igh t t ha t “the e v i

dence submit ted by the commission was insuff ic ient to declarew itho ut do ubt tha t the Governm e nts o f Yugos lav ia , Bulga r ia a ndAlbania were v io la t ing the Char te r and g iv ing d i rec t ass i s tanceand support to Greek guer i l las .” Very caut iously but qui te def i n i te ly Mr . Ni l s Langhe l le ob jec ted to the Amer ican reso lu t ionwhich p laced respons ib i l i ty fo r the presen t d i s tu rbances onGre ece ’s th re e nor the rn ne ighbours . “We ha ve ce r ta in doubts ,”Mr . Langhe l le sa id , “whether the da ta p resen ted by the inves t i gat ing qommission and i ts auxi l iary group enables us to come to

s uch a de finite c onciusion, es pecia lly w i th re gar d to Bu lga r ia .”The French delegate , M. Delbos , declared: “I do not wish to

say tha t t he A lban ian , Yugos lav and Bu lga r i an Gove rnmen t sre nde r as s is tance to thes e gue r i llas , s ince in our opinion th is wasnot e s tab lishe d le ga l ly—p re s umpt ion is no t p r oof .”

In spi te of h is aggress iveness towards Yugoslavia , Bulgar iaand Albania , M. Spaak , too , cou ld no t bu t re t rea t , conf ron tedwith incontrover t ib le proofs of the fa ls i ty of these accusat ions .Cont rad ic t ing h imse l f , M. Spaak made the fo l lowing s ta tement :

“ I do no t th ink tha t any one could even hope to asser t tha tGre ece ’s nor the rn ne ighbours a re ins t iga tors o f the c iv il wa rgoing on in tha t count ry . I persona l ly do no t be l ieve tha t theyare doing so and i f someone asser ts d i f ferent ly , I th ink th is isex agge ra t ion an d hype rbo le . ”

If such were the s ta tements of delegates support ing the Anglo-Amer ican pos i t ion , and t ry ing in every way to conso l ida te th i spos i tion fn d jus t i fy the po licy of the Anglo- Amer ican de leg a t ionin th is mat ter , does i t not tes t i fy to the ut ter col lapse Of thecharges pre fe r red aga ins t Yugos lav ia , Bulgar ia and Albania?

The Anglo- Ame r ican accusers were qu ick to sense this , a ndhas t ened to accep t t he t en t a t ive F rench amendmen t , c lu t ch ingit as an anchor o f s a lva t ion fro m the mo ra l defea t which aw aite di f they cont inued to pers i s t . Indeed , Mr . Johnson , p resen t ing onbeha l f o f t he Un i t ed S ta t e s Gove rnmen t h i s i nd ic tmen t a s s e tfor th in document No. 191 , warned tha t a major i ty o f the members of the commiss ion were convince d of the g uilt of Yugo s lavia ,B u l g a r i a a n d A l b a n i a , b u t t h a t t h e A m e r i c a n G o v e r n m e n t w a sre ady to waive th is charge and accep t the- Fre nch ame ndme nt ,

p rov ided the Governments o f Yugos lav ia , Bulgar ia and Albaniadec la red the ir w illingne s s to co- operate w ith the commis s ionwhich wou ld be cha rged wi th the con t ro l ove r t he imp lemen ta t i f th A bl d i i b th th t i I t



es tab l i shment o f a border commiss ion on which the Amer icanand Br it i sh Governme nts e v iden t ly p in the ir hopes . It was c lea rf rom the very beg inn ing , tha t the o r ig ina l charges con ta ined inthe Amer ican reso lu t ion , in which i t was p roposed tha t theGeneral Assembly recognise as an es tabl ished fact the v iola t ionof in te rna t iona l law by Yugos lav ia , Bu lga r ia and Alba n ia th roughassis tance to the Greek gueri l las in their s t ruggle against the

Tsaldar is regime, was nothing but a feeler designed on the onehand fo r in t imida t ion and on the o ther fo r ba rga in ing , in o rderto tone down and then to make concess ions wi th regard to theaccusa t ions aga ins t the th ree Governme nts , and to w in over tha tpa r t of the delegates w ho opposed these accusat ions , but be lie vedin the possibi l i ty of se t t ing up the commission proposed by theAnglo- Amer icans .

Tha t th i s was hagg l ing—means o f p ressure and coerc ion—isevident f rom the behaviour of the Bri t ish delegat ion. Only theday before Mr. McNe il moved his re so lut ion (D. No. A/ C — 1/207)which contains no charges against Yugoslavia , Bulgar ia andAlban ia , but w hich s imply refers in th is re spect to the opinion of the m ajo r i ty of the commiss ion. Mr. McNe il propose d th is am e ndme nt ins te ad o f the accusa t ions con ta ined in the Ame r ican reso lu t ion, provided Yugoslavia , Bulgar ia and Albania accepted thecondit ions dic ta ted by Mr. Johnson. Next day, however , evenbefore rece iv ing an answer f rom Bulgar ia and Alban ia , Mr .McNeil subst i tu ted his or ig inal resolut ion by a d ifferent , morestr ingent one, not hesi ta t ing to contradic t h imself .

The Sovie t delegat ion s ta te d in Comm itte e No. 1 th a t suchhaggling was impermissible , that i t was impermissible to br inginto play a l l k inds of pressure , threats and in t imidat ion in orderto wres t f rom Yugos lav ia , Bu lgar ia and Alban ia a recogn i t ion

of w ha t does not exis t in re al ity , a confession of ha ving c ommittedsome th ing they d id no t commit , p romis ing in exchange a mi lde rand, I would say, more cowardly resolut ion, jus t for the sake of somehow securing the es tabl ishment of a commission.

I t shou ld be sa id r igh t he re tha t a l l th i s was accompanied ' bythe obvious violation of the e st ablish e d rules of proce dure . Sufficei t to say tha t the Amer ican reso lu t ion was pu t to the vo te in anabsolute ly unusual order : f i rs t the vote was takep not on thebeginning of th is resolut ion but on c lauses se lected from themidd le , then the end o f the reso lu t ion was pu t to the vo te andon ly the n was the vo te take n on the beg inn ing o f the res o lu t ion .All th is was done in an absolute ly unscrupulous way, in the

crudest manner before the eyes of a l l , in d irect v iola t ion of theChar te r a nd .ru les ,of proce dure , and none of the m ajor i ty of thecommiss ion which vo ted fo r the Amer ican reso lu t ion a t such agal loping pace ever thought of denying the fact of th is v iola t ion . The se l f same M. Spaak dec la red wi thou t any compunc t iontha t such a method o f vo t ing was no t p rov ided fo r by the ru lesof p rocedure and even con t rad ic ted them. Indeed th is was “an

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ab nor ma l me thod ,” to cite M. Spaak. But w ha t can you do aboutit? By the no rm al procedure , as the re pres enta t ives of them a jor ity admit ted , i t w ould have bee n d if ficult in the g iven caseto secure the necessary ends. Well , in such a case let us use abnormal methods of vot ing!

Thus by hook o r by c rook the Ame r ican de leg a t ion succeededin muster ing a major i ty , and cer ta in c lauses of the Amer icanre so lut ion which ha d a lr e ady bee n cons ide rab ly emas cu la ted bythe Fre nch a me ndme nt , were approve d w i th six- to e ight de lega t ions vot ing agains t and wi th a cons iderable number of de lega t ions—up to 10 or 15—abstaining. Right here i t should be notedthat subsequent ly , in the vot ing on o ther resolu t ions , as manyas 26 delegat ions abstained, with s ix or eight delegat ions vot ingfor these resolu t ions , whi le dur ing the vot ing on. the U.S .S .R.

resolut ion some points of th is resolu t ion were turned down by asmall majority of 17 to 11 votes, and 25 to 27 delegations'abs ta ined.

Only such an ugly procedure when the opinion of those pre sent i s d is regarded can br ing about a s i tua t ion in which 11 voteagainst , 27 abstain, br inging the total to 38, and nevertheless theresolut ion is considered approved because i t gathered 17 votes .

Sect ion three of the Sovie t resolu t ion on the evacuat ion of fore ign t roops f rom Greece was re jec ted by 33 votes agains t

e ight , w ith 16 abs tent ions, th a t is by less th a n two- thirds of the ^ent i re commit tee .

Thus a cons iderable number of de legat ions refused to suppor tthe Amer ican proposals . Do not these indisputable fac ts tes t i fyto the b ig mo ra l and po lit ica l defea t of the Anglo- Amer ican b loc ,compel led , under the b lows of cr i t ic i sm on the par t of manydelegat ions, to retreat f rom i ts or iginal posi t ion of accuser andto be conte nt with a re s olut ion fro m w hich the Greco- Anglo-Ame r ica n accusa tions a re ban is he d w i thou t t r ace?

Ha ving begun w ith loud accus at ions abo ut a thre a t to Gree ce ’spol i t ica l independence and ter r i tor ia l in tegr i ty , the de legat ionsof the Uni ted S tates , Gre at Br ita in a nd Gree ce ha d to be contentwi th a resolu t ion in which they d id not even dare to s ta te the i ropinion, but confined themselves to references to the opinion of the major i ty of the inves t iga t ing commiss ion. I t was prec ise lythe inves t iga t ing commiss ion which reached the conclus ion tha tYugos lav ia , Bu lga r i a a nd A lba n ia h ad re ndered ass is t ance and .suppor t to the guer i l las f ight ing agains t the Greek Government ,but as to the majori ty of Committee No. 1 i t fai led to s tate i tsown opinion, i t washed i t s hands of the mat ter , sending thosewho seek t ru th fro m Pont ius to P ila t e .

Thus the charges p re fe r re d by the Anglo- Amer ican b loc w i th



t ime by the Secur i ty Counc i l to the Greek borders was to bereduced in the end to wha t i s con ta ined in the Amer ican reso lu t ion , one has every reason to say: the mo unta in has g iven b i r th toa mouse. This , of course , d id not warrant the se t t ing up of sucha commission. Nevertheless , the commission was es tabl ished andnow, in spi te of the fa i lure of i ts ent i re work as regards the

t rum pe d up charges aga ins t Yugos lav ia , Bu lgar ia and Alban ia ,a new decis ion is being passed on the formation of another commission with broader powers , g iving i t powers to control theac t iv it ie s o f the Yugos lav , Bu lga r ian and Alba n ian Gover nments ,so that i t should be able to in terfere in their domest ic affa irs asdishonest ly as d id the f i rs t commission.

One cannot agree to commissions whose funct ions s tand insharp con t rad ic t ion to the p r inc ip le o f our Char te r on thesoveign equal i ty of nat ions . That is why the Soviet delegat ionvoted against the es tabl ishment of th is commission.

8. T h e E s t a b l is h m e n t o f t h e C o m m is s i o n — C r u d e V io l a t io n

o f t h e M o s t I m p o r t a n t P r in c i p le of t h e C h a r t e r C o n c e r n in g t h e. · Sov e re ign Right s of Na tions

The SovIet . ,delegat ion gave a deta i led s ta tement of i ts v iewson th is mat te r . The Sov ie t de lega t ion po in ted ou t tha t the rewere no g rounds fo r the es tab l i shment o f such a commiss ion ,s ince i t has been proved that the basic source of Greece’s unsa t i s fac to ry- po lit ica l s itua t ion wi th rega rd to her fo re ign re la t ions must be sought in the condit ion of her domest ic affa irs ,and fo r such a purpose the re was no need to appo in t a commiss ioninves ted w ith the funct ions de f ined by t he de cis ion of CommitteeNo. 1 . The Soviet delegat ion pointed out that the es tabl ishment

of a commission w ith s uch funct ions does no t corr espond ' tothe p r inc ip les o f the Char te r o f the Uni ted Na t ions o rgan isa t ionand to the pr inciple of sovereign equal i ty of nat ions above a l l .Th is commiss ion wi l l no t improve the s i tua t ion , bu t make i tworse . I t wi l l be power less to smooth mat te rs . On the con t ra ryits act iv i ty w ill re sul t in s t i ll gre ater d is conte nt a nd complica-cation of Balkan affairs. Because of this, the U.S.S.il . opposesthe above commission.

Guided by the rea l i sa t ion o f the impor tance o f the ques t ionunder considerat ion, and of the necessi ty of es tabl ishing the t ruec&uses of the s i tuat ion in Greece, which has a corrupt ing inf lu ence a lso upon the re la t ions between Greece and other countr ies ,

the Sov ie t de lega t ion went to g rea t pa ins to expose the rea lcauses o f the unsa t i s fac to ry and . a la r ming s i tua t ion w hich hasar ise n in the r e la t ions be twee n the four Ba lka n S tates .

The Greek p rob lem causes a la rm to the pub l ic o f democra t icpeace- loving countr ies . The peace- loving peoples canno t res ignthemse lves to, a t te mpts to conceal the re al source of the e vi l andmisfo r tunes which befe l l the Greek peop le and which th rea tenthe t ranqu i l l i ty and secur i ty o f the S ta tes border ing on Greece ,

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as wel l as the secur i ty of the whole wor ld . By e l iminat ing th isre al source of evi l it w ill be poss ible to ens ure peace on the Gree k borders , a nd to re move the c omplica t ions ir i the sphe re of fore ignpolicy thre at e ning pe ac e ful co- operat ion in the Balkans ' . The

Soviet delegat ion cal led to the at tent ion of Committee No, 1 , andst i l l ear l ier of the Securi ty Council , numerous facts confirmingtha t the re s pons ib ility for the inc ide nts wh ich took p lace onGree ce ’s no r the rn f ron t i e r r e s t s w ith the Gree k Gover nmen t .These fac ts were a lso brought before the invest iga t ing commis s ion which , however , g ross ly d is re garde d im pa r t ia lity and it sob l iga t ion to invest iga te thoroughly and impar t ia l ly the fac tspoin ted ou t by the Yugoslav , Bulgar ian and the Albanianauthor it ie s , in se arch of- t ru th. N

How par t ia l were the ac t ions of the invest iga t ing commiss ion

is ev ident f rom such fac ts as th is . The Greek s ide proposed toinve s t igate the 14 incidents on the Gre e k- Yugoslav borde r , and a llthese inc idents , except the one in Agnos Germanos, were in ves t iga ted . The Yugoslav represen ta t ive asked for the invest iga t ion of on ly th ree inc idents —in Pe r ik lia , in Chr iss y and a t LakeDoira n—which occu r red in Sep tember , Oc tober and November ,1946, and not a single one of these incidents was investigated.The Alban ian Governmen t a sked fo r the inves t iga t ion o f e igh tinc idents bu t on ly th ree were , inves t iga te d , i t as ked tha t 32witnesses be g iven a hear ing but on ly e igh t were heard . Thus ,

in th is case the r e ques t s o f the Alba n ian Gover nme n t were me tto an ins ign ifican t ex ten t , w hile the dema nds of the Gre e k Government were met near ly 100 per cen t .

Such were the commiss ion’s ac t ions in the pas t . We a re no tsure tha t i t wi l l no t ac t in the same way in the fu ture , s incethere are no grounds for the ac t ivit ies o f th is commis s ion exceptthe po l it ica l p lan ha tche d in the jungle s of the Sta te De par tme ntand the Foreign Off ice, the idea of which is to assume trusteesh ip over Greece and conver t her in to a mi l i ta ry s t ra teg ic baseunder cover of that economic assistance which, i t is a l leged,

is suppose dly be ing re ndere d her .Nor can we fa i l to- no te her e t ha t whe n the Yugos lav re pre

se n ta t ives r a ise d be fo re the commiss ion , w h ich was the n me e t ingin Yugoslavia, the quest ion of an addit ional invest igat ion of theGreek charge concern ing the Bulkes camp, summoning Zacha-r i ad is and the comm ande r o f the fo rme r you th b r igadeGra ma t ika s as witness es , the commis s ion re fuse d to do so , be ing“short of t ime.”

Had the commiss ion approached i t s task ob jec t ive ly andimp ar t ia lly , Com mit tee No. 1 wo uld have h a d more fac ts expos

ing the in t r igues of the - Greek au thor it ie s agains t Yugos lav ia ,Bulgar ia and Albania . But even the avai lab le mater ia l suf f icesto es tab l ish th is wi th fu l l au thent ic i ty and ra ises the quest ionof the responsib i l i ty of the Greek Government for a l l tha t



Alba nian borders . Th is is w hy the Sovie t delega t ion in it seso lu t ion proposes that the responsib i l i ty o f the Greek Govern

me nt be recognised and the a ppro pr ia te conclus ions d ra wn. Themost impor tan t conclus ion reached by the Sovie t delegat ion onhe bas is o f nume rous fac t s a nd a tho rough e xa mina t ion o f t he

s i tuat ion in Greece, i s that the responsib i l i ty fo r th is s i tuat iones ts wi th the b an king and com me rcia l c lique w hich ho lds powern Greece , and the Governmen t s o f t he Powers wh ich a re the

main driving force of the whole of Greek pol i t ics .Sup po r t by the , Ame r ican and Br i t is h Gove rnme nts -of the

p resen t Greek Governmen t , wh ich se rves the in t e res t s o f eact ionary Greek circles, is the chief cause of the pol i t ical and

economic malady exper ienced by Greece.Al l t hese f ac t s p rove beyond a shadow o f doub t t ha t t he

e n t i re ' gu il t and re s pons ib ility fo r the var ious incide n ts andevents in the re la t ions betweeen Yugoslav ia , Bulgar ia and

Alba nia on the one hand , and Greece on the o ther , res ts w ith theGre ek Gove rnme n t , and w ith those fo re ign S ta tes wh ich by the irn terven t ion in Greek domest ic af fa i rs , by thei r suppor t o f e act ionary , an t i- democrat ic fo rces w i th in Greece, increase the

numerous diff icul t ies and abnormali t ies , such as the clashes andcompl icat ions which create an a tmosphere o f tens ion in th ispar t o f Europe.

9. We De ma n d a n Imme d ia t e Wit h d r a w a l o f Brit ish Troopsand Amer ican Mil i tary I n s t r u c t o r s

The p resence o f Br i t i sh t roops and numerous Amer ican

mil i tary ins t ructors and exper t s in Greece compl icates theitua t ion s t i ll ’ more . This is w hy the Sovie t Gove rnm e nt , notor the f i r s t year , has been ins is t ing and cont inues to ins i s t onhe evacuat ion of Br i t i sh t roops f rom Greece and on the recal l

o f the Amer ican mi l i tary miss ions , ins t ructors and exper t s . Theeal i sa t ion of th is jus t demand const i tu tes the most impor tan t

prerequis i te fo r the res to ra t ion of o rder and publ ic t ranqui l l i tyn Greece and , a t the same t ime, the main condi t ion for the 's t ab lishme n t o f no r mal r e l a t ions be tween Greece and it so r the rn ne ighbours . The Sov ie t Governmen t be l i eves tha t i ts impor t an t t o ensu re tha t means sen t t o Greece under the

re tex t o f render ing economic ass i s tance to that count ry shouldeal ly be used for the p roper purpose , namely fo r economicss is tance, and no t fo r const ruct ing mi l i tary bases and t ra in ing

gendarme un i t s and corps fo r the suppress ion of the guer i l las .Fo r th i s pu rpose the Sov ie t Governmen t p roposes the es t ab

i shment o f a specia l commiss ion inves ted wi th superv isoryunct ions to ensure that the ass i s tance received by Greece i s

used on ly in the in teres t s o f the Greek people .I am conc lud ing as I began . The mos t impor t an t ques t ion

which const i tu tes the very bas is o f the en t i re Greek prob lem, i she evacuat ion of fo re ign t roops f rom Greece. No one can deny

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tha t the presence of Br i t i sh t roops in Greece p lays a negat ivero le and const i tu tes a source of very many compl ica t ions .When speaking in Commit tee No. 1 , I ment ioned the s ta te men t o f a member o f the Labour Pa r ty , Majo r Wel l s , who twoyears ago poin ted ou t tha t the Greek cr is i s would no t be so lved

so long as the present state of affairs continues, so long as r ightunde r the nose of the Br it ish Ar m y and Br it ish po lit ica l officials ,the f ines t represen ta t ives of the Greek people are regarded ascr iminals and t rea ted as such .

I a lso po in ted ou t ano the r s t a t eme n t made a t tha t t ime by Mr .Gree nwood , Labo ur Me mbe r o f P a r liam e n t , who s a id : “It isin to lerab le tha t Br i t i sh t roops should be used in such a way asto br ing about an in terna t ional quar re l in Greece .” He was qu i ter igh t . Subsequent developments proved the jus t ice of th is andma ny o the r s imila r r e marks . I s ha l l r e ca l l a le t t e r f rom a Br it is h

a i rman f rom Sa lon ika wh ich was r ead in the Br i t i sh House o f Commons. De sc r ib ing a pea ce fu l de mons t ra t ion of Gre ek pa t r io t s , the au tho r o f the le t t e r wro te tha t the re w ou ld no t havebeen any c iv i l war in these d is t r ic ts had not the Br i t i sh au thor i t ies b r oug ht in an t i- popular t roops . It is no t for tu itous t ha t theRight- wing leaders openly jus t i fy the ir ba nd i t act ions , s ta t ingtha t they have no th ing to f ea r s ince the Br i t i sh suppor t them,and , re ly ing on the suppor t o f Br i t i sh arms, they need not en terin to compromise wi th o ther par t ies . I t i s no secre t tha t thepresence of Bri t ish t roops in Greece is ut i l ised against the

co untr y’s de mocr at ic forces, and is he lping to para lys e theseforces and promot ing the in f luence of the reac t ionary e lements .Pe ople say tha t there is a s er ious s itua t ion in Greece . But Greecehas enough new a nd fre sh forces capable of f ind ing a wa y out o f the s i tua t ion which has ar i sen there , wi thout ex t raneous ass is tance , w itho ut the ass istance of fore ign troops, e s pec ial ly in vie wof the fac t tha t th is ass is tance ac tua l ly br ings about res u lts fro mwh ich the Gree k people suffer most .

This is why the Soviet delegat ion insists upon i ts proposal forthe immed ia te evacua t ion f rom Greece o f the Br i t i sh a rmed

forces , as wel l as o f the Amer ican mi l i ta ry ins t ruc tors , exper tsand such- like s pecialists . T he ev acua tion of foreign troops f romGreece wil l be an effect ive and powerful means for solving theGreek problem f ina l ly and f i rmly to the benef i t o f the Balkanpeoples an d of the peoples of the who le wo rld .



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[Συλλογικό] - The Greek Question Speeches of Soviet Delegation at UN General Assembly 1947...

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