26 APRIL 1946, Page 1

Prospects in Greece

The Government in Greece having taken another turn, the Populists are in sole control of the administration. The Liberal and Central party representatives, M. Papandreou and M. Sophocles Venizelos in particular, have resigned and M. Tsaldaris has assumed the dual post of Premier and Foreign Minister. The Government rests on a majority of the votes cast at the recent election, and it will be remem- bered that the Allied Commission which " observed " the elections has made it perfectly clear that they were well conducted and that the abstentions on the Left were not sufficient to have affected the issue materially. That being so, it is at least conceivable that the new Government, if it has the good sense to follow moderate courses and eschew all vendettas against its political opponents, may be able to create in Greece that political stability which the country needs beyond all things. The crux, of course, is the question of a plebiscite on the return of the King. That is not primarily the concern of anyone is this country except in so far as anything calculated to create dis- order, and so necessitate the continued presence of British troops in Greece, is a proper cause of co-icern to it. But Greece is as much entitled to have a king, and a particular king, if it wants one as Great Britain is, and it is at least arguable that to postpone the plebiscite till Greece has settled down would be the one certain way to prevent it from settling. down at all. Till the plebiscite is taken political propaganda and intrigue is bound to be rampant. There is a great deal to be said for an early decision one way or the other.