Ext 6116/46(S) 'Secret Weekly Political Intelligence Summaries, nos 356-416, August 1946-November 1947' [‎397v] (810/978)

16
On the 5th April the Yugoslav Govern
ment informed H.M. Ambassador that they
agreed that the question of compensation
for British properties affected by the
nationalization law should be settled by
bi-lateral agreement (they carefully
avoided the term “ Mixed Commission ”)
and proposed that direct negotiations
should be opened. British representatives
are now ready to leave for Belgrade as soon
as the Yugoslav Government can make
arrangements for the talks.
Yugoslav requests for material relief
from Britain and British support for the
recent appeal for an emergency delivery
of UNRRA wheat, have been refused.
Yugoslavia is, however, due to receive in
April 16,000 tons of potatoes under
UNRRA arrangements, and may obtain a
further delivery of seed potatoes.
Greece
The United Nations Enquiry Commis
sion concluded their investigations in
Belgrade on the 2nd April and have now
reached Geneva where they will prepare
their report to the Security Council. At
their last meetings in Belgrade, the Greeks
wanted the Commission to examine the
Yugoslav General Dapchevic who, they
alleged, was responsible for organising the
despatch of guerrillas to Greece. The
Russians opposed the calling of the general,
and also advised the Yugoslav liaison
officer not to reply to some questions put
to him by the American delegate about the
proposed incorporation of Macedonia in a
Yugoslav federal state. The British and
U.S. delegates finally withdrew their
proposal that observers should remain in
Greece while the Commission are drawing
up their report. It was thought that, if
Slav opposition should cause the rejection
of a resolution on an interim commission,
any subsequent discussion on a recommen
dation for a permanent commission might
be prejudiced.
Since the Commission’s departure from
Macedonia several particularly brutal
attacks by bandits have been reported,
sometimes by bands as many as 600 strong.
A novel feature of these recent raids is that
in many instances the village priest has
been either butchered or burnt alive.
On the 9th April the Greek Govern
ment’s spring offensive began against the
main forces of the bandits in Western
Macedonia and Northern Thessaly. This
was preceded by a final appeal, made by
M. Venizelos, to the bandits to surrender,
and by the dropping of leaflets warning
the civilian population to keep clear of the
operational areas. First reports indicated
that a large encircling movement by two
army corps, assisted by aircraft, was
proceeding according to plan, but snow has
since covered the mountains to a depth of
two feet and activity on both sides has been
considerably reduced.
In the Peloponnese comparative jipder
has now been restored and the Government
are proposing to lift martial law. General
Zervas, who estimated the number of
bandits operating in the Peloponnese at
900 to 1,000, has told the Press that almost
the entire Parnon-Taygetos-Langada
range is now held by Army and Gendar
merie forces.
The Greek Foreign Office have
announced that, despite the departure of
the Soviet Ambassador from Athens (see
under “Soviet Union”) the Greek
Ambassador to Moscow will remain at his
post. They have also issued a statement in
connection with Admiral Rodianov’s com
plaint of anti-Soviet articles in the Greek
press. They point out (a) that the three
newspapers described in the Ambassador’s
note as “ standing close to the Greek
Government” are all m fact organs of
the Opposition; {b) that complete freedom
of the press exists in Greece; and (c) that
the official Soviet denial issued by the Toss
agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. was published in all the Greek
newspapers.
The feeling is said to be spreading that
all Greece’s financial troubles will be over
once the U.S. loan becomes effective. Civil
Servants, bank employees and State Rail
way employees have all been on strike
claiming an extra month’s salary as Easter
bonus, and it is reported that the Govern
ment are inclined to give way and thus
encourage further trouble. The employees
have now resumed work following a state
ment by the Premier in these terms:
“ When we get the U.S. loans, I am certain
that U.S. experts will deal with employees’
claims, which will be settled satisfactorily
together with wage and salary questions.”
Albania
(See under “ United Nations.”)
Bulgaria
Although, in public, Opposition circles
in Bulgaria have maintained a prudent
reserve throughout the last month on the
subject of President Truman’s pronounce
ment of the 12th March, there is no doubt
that—much as they, in common with other
Bulgars, dislike the Greeks—they have on
the whole been greatly encouraged and
stimulated by the speech and its reception.
It is probably true to say that the self-con
fidence of Government circles has been