A King Is Postponed

Because British policy shifted, Greece last week got a new government and almost lost its Regent.

Foreign Minister Ernest Bevin was sick of having British policy in Greece thrown in his face whenever he complained about Russian policy in eastern Europe; he was sensitive to Labor rank-&-file charges that the Attlee Government was continuing Churchill's support of exiled King George II. Hector McNeil, Bevin's Under Secretary, went to Athens, laid the groundwork for a Greek Government with wider popular support.

Last week 86-year-old Liberal Themi-stokles Sophoulis formed a Cabinet that included virtually all groups except Communists and royalists. Sophoulis let it be understood that: 1) elections would be held by March; 2) no plebiscite on the return of King George would take place until 1948.

In London, outraged George II stormed that this was "the repudiation of every decision so far taken," and "an insult to the Greek people." The new course, he said, now left him free to act as he saw fit.

Archbishop Damaskinos, who read in the King's statement a virtual withdrawal of his mandate as Regent, sent the king his resignation. At week's end, under pressure from London, the Archbishop was persuaded to keep the regency.

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