Greece and the United Nations
It has been freely reported for some weeks that all that stands between the present Greek Government and downfall is the need to hold the line until the debate of the General Assembly of the United Nations on the Greek question is completed. That debate has been dragged out for nearly three weeks, but it has ended at last. If the coalition of Liberals and Populists, led by the nonagenarian M. Sophoulis, now breaks up there will be no surprise and few regrets. The real trouble is that nobody has produced any practical alternative. The present Greek Parliament was legally and regularly elected in 1946. It is not likely that new elections would produce a profound change in its party composition. The present Government was formed a year ago. Ineffective as it has been (and last week's decision to execute twelve trade union leaders gave no evidence of good sense), it is unlikely that another and more effective group of Ministers can be found. But it will be impossible to carry on much longer with the economy in miserable confusion, civil administration inefficient and sometimes corrupt, the non-political police falling short of the hopes necessarily placed in them, and the army unable to end the war in the north. If there is no conceivable Government which can overcome these conditions, there is nothing to be done—except to change the conditions. The American and British missions have done a great deal to improve the organisation and equipment of the army and the police. The Americans peg away, at great expense to them- selves, at the discouraging economic and administrative problems. But the war goes on in the north and Communists continue their work of terrorism and sabotage throughout Greece. It is just possible that the resolution of the political committee of the United Nations for immediate talks between Greece and her northern neighbours may produce useful results. But it would be unrealistic for the United Nations to assume that the trouble will end automatically if and when the parties get round a table.
