-12-#669, Eighteenth, from London.             
 
                                                            
 
 
I do not wish to do them any military injustice. Of course 
      it was not against the Germans they were trying to fight to any 
      great extent. They were simply taking our arms lying low and 
      awaiting the moment when they could seize power in the capital 
      by force or intrigue and make Greece a Communist state with the 
      totalitarian liquidation of all opponents. I was misled by the 
      little use they were against the Germans especially once the 
      general victory of the Allies became probable in spite of the 
      arms we gave to them. I certainly under-rated them as a fighting 
      force. If I am accused of this mistake I can only say with M. 
      Clemenceau on a celebrated occasion: "Perhaps I have made 
     a number of other mistakes of which you have not heard.
 
                                                            
 
 
While the British were busy distributing the food and endeavoring 
      to keep things steady the EAM and Communist ministers who were 
      eventually increased to seven in the Papandreou cabinet were 
      playing a different game. Throughout this has been a struggle 
      for power. They were playing the game of the ELAS bands and of 
      their Communist directors. While sitting in M. Papandreou's cabinet 
      they were working in the closest combination with the forces 
      gathering to destroy it and all that he and other colleagues 
      represented in the every day life of Greece.