The Americans in Athens
The American authorities could not have a more perfect lesson in the difficulties of international responsibility than they are now get- ting in Greece. They would like to have a broad-based Government and, such is the cleavage between Right and Left and the obstinacy of the minor parties, that what they have after the recent crisis is a more narrowly based Government than before. They would like to have a new general election to replace a Chamber which was first formed to deal with issues which are no longer of first import- ance, but the disturbed state of the country precludes such an election. They would like to behave in a conciliatory manner to the rebels on the Left Wing, or to have the Government behave in such a manner, but the insufferable behaviour of the rebels them- selves and of their foreign abettors makes conciliation next to impossible. In effect, they would like the Greeks to run their own country in a peaceable manner, but they are daily being forced into running it for them. So far and so fast have events moved since the British in Greece were holding the line alone, that the wheel has almost come full circle, and the American authorities are asking that the British troops should extend their stay in Greece still further, presumably at American expense. This is in fact one of the solu- tions which were firmly rejected during the few hectic days before the announcement of the Truman Doctrine, but it looks as if it will now have to be accepted for the time being. The objections to sending a body of American troops, other than a Staff nucleus, to Greece may not be insuperable, but they can hardly be overcome in a short time. For the immediate future a few British troops may have to stay, and such is the moral effect of their presence on the Greek population and the long-term importance of the continuance of solid and cordial relations between Britain, Greece and the United States that it is better they should stay. But they cannot stay for ever.
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