EUROPE

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP78-01617A006100060007-7
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 21, 2016
• Document Release Date: June 30, 2008
• Sequence Number: 7
• Publication Date: March 25, 1950
• Content Type: SUMMARY

54 25 MAR 1950
Approved For Release 2008/06/30: CIA-RDP78-01617AO06100060007-7
EUROPE
1. GREECE: New Cabinet formed--According to US Charge
Minor in Athens, the Venizelos Cabinet appointed on 23 March
creates the impression of an imposed solution to frustrate
the freely expressed will of the Greek people and exposes
the Palace to charges of political favoritism and intrigue.
Minor expresses the view that the Venizelos Cabinet will not
receive the support of the other centrist leaders (Plastiras
and Papandreou), will be tolerated by the rightist parties
only so long as they see fit, and does not even have the full
backing of Venizelos' own Liberal Party. Minor adds that
the new Cabinet will seek a vote of confidence and then sus-
pend Parliament for at least three months, but that the first
meeting of Parliament maybe postponed from 30 March
until 17 April,
(CIA Comment-. CIA believes that the Venizelos
Cabinet may, with considerable difficulty, be able to stay
in power temporarily, but lacks the basis for effective par -
liamentary government. The centrist majority in the pre-
sent parliament, upon which any viable government would
have to depend, has been seriously split by Venizelos' action,
and an impasse may develop necessitating a new national
election soon. In such an election, the Greek people would
show increased displeasure with the established major poli-
tical parties, and as a result of the Palace's political in-
triguing might again become sharply divided into traditional
monarchist and republican camps, to the great detriment of
the nation's stability.)
State Dept. review completed
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Approved For Release 2008/06/30: CIA-RDP78-01617AO06100060007-7
 Approved For Release 2008/06/30: CIA-RDP78-01617A006100060007-7
TOP SECRET
FAR EAST
20 AUSTRALIA. Anti-Communist action --US Ambassador
Jarman in Canberra reports that the newly-elected Liberal-
Country Government has invoked strong emergency powers
for use against the current series of Communist-led strikes.
In Jarman's opinion, this "bold and vigorous" action indi-
cates the new government's determination to force a show-
down with Communist union leaders o The Ambassador
points out that the action appears to have strong popular
support and predicts that the government "stands a good
chance of victory,"
"
TOP SECPE"T
Approved For Release 2008/06/30: CIA-RDP78-01617A006100060007-7