Ext 6116/46(S) 'Secret Weekly Political Intelligence Summaries, nos 356-416, August 1946-November 1947' [‎39v] (78/978)

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increase in the pay of civil servants
necessitated a reduction in their number
and an increase in their hours of work. He
said that, although the national income
had been seriously reduced and military
expenditure increased, the budget must be
balanced and prices kept down so that the
export trade might be improved. The
Greek people must redouble their efforts,
hitherto frustrated by domestic anarchy, so
that they might become economically self-
sufficient and not depend on British and
American help for their rehabilitation.
Finally M. Sofoulis appealed for “hard
work and sacrifices to the point of self-
denial.”
Raids by the rebels have continued, two
noteworthy ones having taken place on the
night of the lOth/llth October. At
Metangitsi (Khalkidiki), while a band 100
strong was attacking and burning the
village, another band ambushed a gendar
merie company who were coming to the
rescue and captured their mule-train of
ammunition and supplies. At Litokhoron
another band looted and burned many
houses and recruited 49 people, including
a number of bandits who had recently
surrendered.
The Government have decided to extend
to the Athens area the emergency security
measures hitherto in force in other parts
of the country, and special courts-martial
have been set up in Athens with jurisdic
tion over Attica. These steps have been
taken as a result of the raid on the 9th
October when a small band entered Hassia
village on Mount Parnes, 12 miles from
Athens, and killed a member of the local
defence force.
Fresh steps have been taken against the
Communists. Following on a long series
of provocations, including open support of
the rebellion proclaimed in the name of
K.K.E. on October 8th, on the 17th Octo
ber Rizospastis, the leading Communist
newspaper, published a proclamation by
the rebel leader, Markos, urging the Greeks
to take up arms and join the rebellion.
Copies of the paper were seized, and by the
evening a decree had been approved by the
Parliamentary Recess Committee, the
Cabinet and the King and published in the
Government Gazette, providing for com
plete suppression of any newspaper or
periodical which deliberately supports
armed revolt. On the 18th the Athens
police occupied the premises of Rizospastis
and Eleftheri Ellada (the E.A.M. news
paper), closed them down, and confiscated
their newsprint, printing machinery and
furniture. The decree forbids resumption
of publication under other names, as has
happened when other Communist news
papers have been suppressed in the past.
Bulgaria
Having knocked out the Agrarian Party
by executing Petkov, the Communists now
have only to deal with two small parties^—
the Zveno and Social Democrats—in orwr
to clear the Fatherland Front of all
vestiges of those on whose backs they have
climbed to power. It was noticeable that
at the trial of General Stanchev and others
for conspiracy, which began on 8th Octo
ber, many of the accused for the first time
directly implicated General Velchev. As
General Velchev, now Minister in Berne,
is a close friend of Kimon Georgiev, the
Foreign Minister and former Prime
Minister, the trial, which has ended in
sentences to imprisonment for life or long
terms, becomes a weapon for use against
the Zveno of which they are the two lead
ing members. As regards the Social Demo
crat Party, persons belonging to it are
among those recently arrested, and the
indications are that its liquidation is
impending. With arrests and persecution
continuing, the position of all except
whole-hearted supporters of the Govern
ment becomes more and more precarious
and the atmosphere is one of gloom,
uncertainty and tension. By way of diver
sion official propaganda tries to inculcate
increasing hostility to Great Britain and,
particularly, the United States, vigilance
against Turkish and Greek agression, and
unreserved devotion to the U.S.S.R.
Intensely though the Bulgarian Govern
ment’s actions are disapproved in London,
it was decided that Mr. Sterndale Bennett
should present his credentials as Minister
on 21st October. The United States
Government are also accrediting a
Minister.
Turkey
The ban imposed by the Turkish Govern
ment in August on all sales for sterling
had the unwelcome effect of knocking the
bottom out of the dried fruit market and
causing considerable concern at Izmir, the
stronghold of the Opposition. At the same
time the Turkish Government were anxious
about the general financial situation.
Since the devaluation of September 1946,
Turkey has bought from the United States
not only ships and railway material, which
she did need, but also luxury cars, electric
ware, Neon lights, nylon products and
other things which she could well have
done without. Having counted on the con
vertibility of the holding of £16 million,
she found herself obliged, on the contrary,