NOTES BY MR. RITCHIE ON VISIT TO ATHENS

NOTES BY MR. RITCHIE ON VISIT TO ATHENS

The impression which Greece leaves in one’s mind is a most unhappy one – politically. The brilliant sunlight of this halcyon season of the year, the beauty of the surroundings, the vitality of the people -all contrast with the darkness of the political outlook.

2. For Greece feels itself to be an outpost of civilization threatened by inundation from the neighbouring Slav- Communist countries. Insecurity is the predominating feeling among all the people with whom I talked. Their eyes are turned towards the frontiers and beyond these frontiers they see their ancient enemies the Albanians and Bulgars supported by Yugoslavia and by the might of the Soviet Union waiting their opportunity to extinguish the national independence of Greece and to install a puppet Communist regime in Athens similar to those in power in Sofia and Belgrade. Nor, it must be admitted, is this picture a fanciful one. The Greek-Albanian and Greek Bulgar frontiers are kept in ferment by incidents engineered as part of a war of nerves designed to intensify the very feeling of insecurity which dominates Greece. I talked to an American officer who has just returned from the Albanian frontier – a careful and objective witness who told me at first hand off the organization of these raids and left me in no doubt that they were part of a deliberate policy organized by Moscow. The frontier raids were stepped down during the Paris Conference but were now beginning again to take place at intervals of a few days apart. They are on a small scale but they keep the frontier in a state of insecurity. This United States officer had personally interrogated prisoners captured by the Greeks from raiding parties. One was a former officer of the Greek army turned Communist who described the organization of these raiding groups in Yugoslavia. First, indoctrination of Greek Communists by Russian agents, and then the specific orders to infiltrate into Greece and to establish contact with Greek communists within the country. The Greeks fear and have reason to fear an efficient Communist conspiracy on their frontiers which makes use of the ancient hatred of the Bulgars and Albanians for the Greek people.

3. It is against this background one has to consider the vehement of Greek feeling with regard to their frontier claims against Bulgaria

and Albania, and their bitter disappointment at the result of the Paris Conference as it affected the frontier question. This disappointment results in part from a genuine misunderstanding as to the scope and purpose of the Conference. Most Greeks seem to have thought that the Conference could and perhaps would give them the frontiers which they regard as essential to their national safety. The Government seem to have encouraged them in this illusion. In any case the Greeks are for the most part a somewhat primitive people – they cannot understand the procedures or the limitations of the powers of the Conference. They see the issue in similar terms. And so far as I could judge there is on this point an approach to unanimity among them.

4. The Greeks see the position in the following terms: After their magnificent resistance, which was so much praised by their war-time allies at the time, they have been let -down or discarded by their friends. The ex-enemy countries like Bulgaria and Romania have, been, treated as well if not better than themselves. They have not got anything like the reparations which they feel they deserve. On top of this they have not been given minimum national security. For this they blame the Anglo-Saxon powers and especially the United Kingdom.

Among the Greek Roya1ists (and it is an important reservation that most if not all the Greeks whom we met were Royalists), the feeling about the British is extremely bitter. They think that the United Kingdom is trying to appease the Russians at the expense of Greek national interests. They cannot forgive the British for not voting in favour of their frontier claims against Bulgaria and not backing up their claims to Northern Epirus.

The Royal family appear fully to share these feelings. In the time I was in Greece I heard no word of appreciation for the backing Greece has received from the United Kingdom. The British were accused of breaking their promises to Greece, although no specific promises were mentioned. They probably had in mind the excessive assurances of general aid made during the war by the B.B.C. rather than any formal assurances from the United Kingdom Government. This bitterness does not appear to extend to the same extent to the United States although the United States has been less sympathetic

to Greek claims than the United Kingdom. But they never expected as much from them.

When it became known that the United Kingdom delegation had abstained from supporting Greek frontier claims in Paris there was a hostile demonstration outside the British Embassy in Athens. So far as the Greek Communists are concerned, they take the line that they are as interested as any other Greek political group in obtaining frontier rectifications, but that this will never be possible as long as a Right Wing Government is in power. If, they say, the Communists were in power, Greece would have the support of the Soviet Union which, unlike the United Kingdom, does not betray its friends but looks after their interests. Thus the failure of the Conference to endorse Greek claims has undoubtedly given the Communists a useful propaganda weapon. So far as the Right Wing in Greece is concerned, disillusioned as they are about British Policy, they know that they have no other friend abroad so that they must continue to depend on British support. But the honeymoon period in British-Greek relations is certainly over.

5. If insecurity is the prevailing note in foreign affairs, it also dominates the internal scene. One point in the international situation which must be appreciated is that the plebiscite for the King’s return – roughly a 4-1 vote – was essentially an anti-Communist vote. The monarchy is thought of primarily as a stabilizing institution which will, it is hoped, save the country from Communism. As was explained to us by almost everyone we met, there is no equivalent in Greece of a British Labour Party, no strong moderate group which now commands sufficient support to form a Government. The United Kingdom Government, has, sought in vain to conjure out of the air such a government which could be more easily supported in the United Kingdom and abroad than the present Government, but despite the efforts of the former British Ambassador, Sir Rex Leeper, they have failed. There is no such in the middle-of-the road opinion. The situation is one of fears and hatreds on either, side which may at any time break out in a civil war. So that British policy is now getting the worst of both worlds. It supports its friends grudgingly, and yet is attacked by the Communists as the protector of reaction.

6. The immediate task of the Government and of the monarchy is the restoration of internal security. The difficulties in the way are enormous. Communications are in a chaotic condition, many of the roads are impassable, parts of the country are infested with Communist bandits who terrorize the peasantry. The Greek army is totally inadequate in size to deal with internal security, and at the same time to guard the frontiers. The Gendarmerie have put up a good show, but again they are not strong enough for the responsibilities imposed on them. Arms are the first need and the 'Greek Government is now in negotiation with the United Kingdom authorities to obtain then. As they are received it may be possible to enforce order. On the other hand, there is the danger that the Right Wing may well take advantage of this strength to carry out a wholesale liquidation of their opponents. Memories of the casualties and outrages practiced in the civil war are fresh in people's minds. There are deadly grudges to be paid off. Many people we met including members of the Royal family described the atrocities of which the Communists were guilty. Atrocities, however, may not have all been on one side.

7. The outlook for the people of Greece is certainly not bright and their difficulties are intensified both by economic and psychological factors. They are a miserably poor people (the working classes live at the bare subsistence level at the best of times) and at the moment they live mainly on UNDRA. What happens when UNRRA ceases no one dares to foresee. The country is over-populated and the soil barren. Moreover, the very virtues of the Greeks seem to turn against them. This gallant and high- spirited race will fight for a principle to the end - even if it means fighting their own brothers. Their love of liberty runs to an extreme individualism which will brook no control or authority (for example, it has been totally impossible to introduce a rationing system in Greece, as the people cannot be made to abide by it). Their very loyal ties involve them in bitter vendettas. Then, too, they suffer from a very widespread corruption. Everywhere in Athens we heard of one “racket” or another, a condition which is encouraged by the wretched rates of pay of the public servants.

8. But despite the gloomy prospects ahead, the Greeks have a genius for survival. They are a virile and hardy race. Their history has long

been one of difficulty and danger and it may be that once again they will triumph over their difficulties, but only, it is to be feared, at the expense of further bloodshed and suffering.

Office of the High Commissioner for Canada

Canada House, London, S.W.I.

May 17, 1941

??? A. 257

Sir,

I have the honour to enclose herewith copy of a memorandum which has been presented to me by the Greek Minister in London, Monsieur Charalambos Simopoulos, and which deals with the activities of The Revolutionary Macedonian Organization.

2. Monsieur Simopoulos called me the other day to explain that this organization has active supporters among the Bulgarian emigrants in Canada and the United States. He added that it was particularly active in Toronto where the largest majority of Bulgarian inhabitants are to be found, and he suggested that some steps might be taken by the Canadian Government in order to discredit the organization. The Greek Minister has been asked by his Government to bring the facts to the notice of the Canadian Government and to request their earnest consideration.

3. I should be glad to receive in due course instructions as to the reply which should be made to Monsieur Simopoulos.

I have the honour to be, Sir, Your obedient servant, (can’t tell signature)

The Right Honourable, The Secretary of State for External Affairs, Ottawa, Canada.

The Revolutionary Macedonian Organization ever since the first war has had a purely ant-Yugoslav and anti-Greek character. Its objective is the revision of the treaties, which after the last European War defined the frontiers of the Balkan States.

The organization has not confined itself to terrorization only in the Balkans, but has extended its activities under the cloak of propaganda to countries outside of Bulgaria itself. These activities assumed greater impetus especially after the settlement in Greece of refugees from Asia Minor (1922). The majority of the population of Macedonia had from time immemorial been racially Greek. The establishment in Macedonia of the Greek refugees, coinciding with the voluntary emigration to Bulgaria of the elements of Bulgarian origin, caused the population as to become homogenously Greek and Macedonia thus became as Greek as any other province of the Kingdom.

The Macedonian Organization has always enjoyed the support of every Bulgarian Government, with the exception of those in power from 1934-1936. Financially it was subsidized by the Italian Legation in Sofia. Of recent years it has also received financial support from the German Government, in order to aggravate dissention between the other Balkan States to the benefit of the Axis; this has been amply proved by recent events in the Balkans.

The Bulgarian Organization has also made use of certain Bulgarian immigrants to Canada and the U.S.A. In these countries their principle objective has been, and still is, to collect funds for subversive action in Macedonia and at the same time to extend their sphere of influence by the organization of meeting in the chief cities and the publication and distribution of pamphlets advocating the idea of an administratively autonomous Macedonia or even the creation of an independent State, which would naturally be under the direct influence, if not control, of Bulgaria and her allies.

It would, therefore, be to common interest if the Canadian authorities would assist in purring an end to these activities and cause this propaganda to cease, as it creates a most painful impression both upon the Greek and Yugoslav peoples, who so recently have been subjected to such severe tests.

List of Organizations in Canada