Papagos Takes Over

The elderly gentleman with the erect military bearing who strides through the Athens suburb of Ekali on fine mornings is the new Premier of Greece: Field Marshal Alexander Papagos. An Alsatian dog, Fritz, trots by his side, but gone are the two carloads of soldiers who accompanied him everywhere when he was leading the fight against the Communist guerrillas three years ago.

With 49% of the vote behind his Greek Rally Party, Premier Papagos last week announced his policy towards the Communists: "It is by education and economic improvement that I can bring the bulk of Communist sympathizers back into the nation. But this does not apply to the militants, the convinced fanatics for whom there is no hope. Those who are the most dangerous must be interned."

His first act was to shake up the Greek military establishment: an order of the day warned against laxness, reminded the army that it was Greece's greatest force for maintaining peace and independence, and conspicuously omitted any reference to loyalty to King Paul or the throne. Result: four top generals (all with good anti-Communist records, but favorites of the previous government) resigned along with George Ventiris, secretary general of the King's household.

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