Ext 6116/46(S) 'Secret Weekly Political Intelligence Summaries, nos 356-416, August 1946-November 1947' [‎367v] (750/978)

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19^ milliard for agriculture. He said that
it was planned to increase output by 66
per cent, in industry and by 90 per cent,
in mining. A 50 per cent, increase in the
yield per hectare was also envisaged.
M. Hebrang did not say by what means
these increases in “labour productivity”
were to be obtained.
Greece
At the meeting of the Chamber on the
22nd April the Premier reviewed the
Government’s work during the two months’
recess. M. Maximos, after warmly thank
ing Great Britain for past help, referred
to the Greek Government’s appeal to the
United States. The Government realised
that the proposed assistance meant a
greater obligation on the part of Greece to
sustain democratic ideals. To be worthy
of American help Greece must suppress the
rebels who were trying to establish a
totalitarian regime and must also curb all
other anti-democratic manifestations. The
Greeks could then turn all their efforts to
reconstruction, success in which would be
the justification for President Truman’s
policy. The Government regretted the
need to impose law by force but would
couple continued generosity to those who
surrendered with stern measures against
the rest. They had turned the corner,
thanks to the work of the armed forces, but
there were still trials ahead. The Govern
ment meanwhile had given all possible aid
to the United Nations Commission and
awaited their findings with a quiet
conscience. During the debate which
followed M. Sofoulis deprecated the
Government’s use of force to end the
rebellion and urged a greater extension of
the amnesty, while MM. Markenzinis and
Turkovasilis thought the Government’s
measures not drastic enough and urged
them to outlaw all leading Communists.
The Greek Army have continued to make
satisfactory progress against the rebels.
The commander of the Second Army Corps
has announced that the whole mountainous
region of Thessaly from the line Metsovo-
Kalabaka south-wards to Karpenisi, an
area of 4,000 square kilometres, is now
under State control. He added that, since
operations began, more than two-thirds^
about 1,200, of the estimated number of
bandits in this area had been either killed
or captured, or had voluntarily surren
dered. (British sources, quoting reports
received up to the 23rd April, have not
so far confirmed more than about half this
number.) It is estimated, however, that,
in this heavily wooded country, many
bandits are escaping and it may take many
months before the country is completely
cleared.
Further north there have been several
more reports of bandits escaping over the
border into Bulgaria and Yugoslavia : it
is confirmed, for instance, that in Jdie
course of mopping-up operations in * ie
Mount Belesh area, north-east of Doiran,
a band (closely pursued by Greek military
forces) crossed into Yugoslav territory
whence they opened fire on their pursuers.
In the same area a Greek Spitfire shadow
ing bandits near the border was fired on
both by Greek bandits stationed on the
highest ridge of Belesh, who fired down
on the aircraft flying below them on the
Greek side of the mountain, and by other
Greek bandits on Yugoslav territory
immediately North of Lake Doiran.
In the Peloponnese the situation is again
reported to be bad. The main reason given
for the recent deterioration in the situation
is that the large number of armed
“ Rightists ” has become divided between
(a) those owing allegiance to local
Populist leaders like Mavromikhalis and
Turkovasilis and (b) followers of Zervas.
These factions have on occasion fought
among themselves. Meanwhile, on the
23rd April, Communist bands on Mount
Parnon who were only temporarily dis
persed almost without casualties in
Zervas’s recent operations, inflicted a
severe reverse on a gendarmerie company
which is reported to have lost 70 to 80 men.
Discussions have continued on the nature
and the terms of reference of the rearguard
section of the United Nations Frontier
Commission which is to be left in Greece.
Albania
The press and wireless campaign against
this country has been kept up unremittingly
by the Albanian authorities. Thus the
Tirana Radio’s political commentator told
his French-speaking listeners on the
21st April that if they were fair-minded
they would have to admit that the U.K.
Government had deliberately engineered
the Corfu Channel incident and its sequel
in order to create trouble for Albania,
whose ‘ ‘ only crime is that she occupies a
strategic position in the Mediterranean.
The British would like Albania to become
their operational base, like Greece.” The
only trouble for us was that although “ the
Albanian people have always been anxious
to establish friendly relations with the
British people.” they had “ learnt a few
lessons from this war ” and were now
resolved to go their own way and pursue
a foreign policy of complete independence.”
In view of the fact that Enver Hoxha is at