868.00/5–1046: Telegram
The Chargé in Greece (Rankin) to the Secretary of State
[Received May 11—12:23 p.m.]
633. See mytel 613, May 6.3 Increase Partisan violence since mid-March is serious but not exclusively of Rightist origin as indicated Pravda nor so critical as depicted lurid report London Times May 7 which said “wave of crime and terrorist activity sweeping Greek mainland from northern boundaries to Matapan and from Ionian Islands to Aegean Coast”. (Deptel 575 May 6.4)
British police mission reports total of 14 verified homicides related to politics May 1 to 5 inclusive. In 8 cases victims were Rightists and perpetrators Leftists. In 5 cases victims were Leftists and perpetrators Rightists. Remaining case was innocent bystander killed by stray bullet of gendarmerie dispersing crowd. During March, according same source, homicides related politics were 46 committed by Leftists, 46 committed by Rightists and by 16 unknown persons, or total of 108 as compared with 41 in February. April totals unavailable but probably higher than March.
These homicides result from (1) vendetta assaults on specific individuals, (2) raids by armed bands, (3) free use of weapons in street [Page 160] brawls. First category characteristic in Peloponnesos where Rightists usually instigators, second category most common central and western Macedonia where Communist and Autonomist bands active, third category Athens where responsibility perhaps evenly divided.
Increased disorder may be attributed to (1) deliberate Communist policy (mytel 449, April 3), (2) boldness of Right extremists following elections, (3) release of Leftists under prison decongestion law (see below) and consequent vendetta killings, (4) reluctance gendarmerie and police to curb Rightists due to their own anti-Communist bias and uncertainty as to Govt attitude. Inefficiency of gendarmerie and police judged by western standards, despite recent progress, and traditional Greek complacency towards vendetta and carrying and use of weapons also relevant factors.
During 10 years 1928 to 1937 homicides in Greece recorded maximum 492 in 1928 and averaged 380 annually or 58 per thousand inhabitants. Present stituation should be viewed against this background and not in light grossly exaggerated or invented reports launched by Greek Leftist and Center Opposition press and echoed by Moscow for obvious reasons. Average citizen is unmolested and would be unaware disturbances except for press. Dramatized accounts like that London Times must be attributed to gullibility Times correspondent or to desire build case backing editorial policy favoring postponement plebiscite.
Responsibility present Royalist Govt for Rightist excesses is unclear since marked increase began mid-March and until very recently rather in nature of reluctance or inability take decisive action. Tsaldaris personally, whatever his shortcomings, has good record adherence constitutional procedures. There is no evidence he condones or contemplates use of force, though eventual suppression Communist Party as in Switzerland and other democracies seems likely particularly if King returns. Govt security measures to date include increased penalties for carrying firearms, proposed reestablishment committees public safety and “closing” offices of EAM and Xite auxiliary organizations without interference party activities (mytel 613, May 6). In practice latter measure amounts only to posting pickets outside party offices where auxiliary agencies carry on as usual. Meanwhile Govt is proceeding with releases under prison decongestion law (despatches 2245, Feb. 14 and 2059, Dec. 285) which totaled 7471 by 1st May, 745 having been released since April 1. Present prison population all categories offenders is about 13,000 as compared with 17,000 late December 1945 and 8,000 in 1940.
Sent Dept as 633; repeated Moscow.