FRANCO-SOVIET TREATY. THE CASERTA AGREEMENT.

A twenty years treaty of alliance and mutual assistance similar  in aim to the Anglo Soviet treaty of May 26^th 1942 was concluded between  France and the Soviet Union on December 10^th 1944.

The Caserta Agreement and Mr Churchill’s speech of December 26^th 1944 in Athens, the main part of which appears below, had an important bearing on developments in Greece.

Treaty of Alliance and Mutual Assistance between the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and the French Republic, signed in Moscow, December 10^th 1944.

1.     Each of the High Contracting Parties shall continue the struggle on the side of the other Party and on the side of the United Nations until final victory over Germany. Each of the High Contracting Parties undertakes to render the other Party aid and assistance in this struggle with all the means at it disposal.

2.     The High Contracting Parties shall not agree to enter into separate negotiations with Germany or to conclude without mutual consent any Armistice or Peace Treaty either with the Hitler Government or with any other government or authority set up in Germany , for the purpose of the continuation or support of the policy of German aggression.

3.     The High Contracting Parties undertake also after the termination of the present war with Germany to take jointly all necessary measures for the elimination of any new threat coming from Germany and to obstruct such actions as would make possible any new attempt at aggression on her part.

4.     In the event of either of the High Contracting Parties finding itself involved in military operations against Germany whether as a result of aggression committed by the latter or as a result of the operation of the above Article III, the other Party shall at once render it every aid and assistance within its power.

5.     The High Contracting Parties undertake not to conclude any Alliance and not to take part in any coalition directed against either of the High Contracting Parties.

6.     The High Contracting Parties agree to render each other every possible economic assistance after the war with a view to facilitating and accelerating the reconstruction of both countries and in order to contribute to the cause of world prosperity.

7.     The present Treaty does not in any way affect obligations undertaken previously by the High Contracting Parties in regard to third states in virtue of published Treaties.

8.     The present Treaty , the Russian and French texts of which are equally valid, shall be ratified, and ratification instruments shall be exchanged in Paris as early as possible.

It comes into force from the moment of the exchanged of ratification instruments and shall be valid for twenty years.

If the Treaty is not denounced by either of the High Contracting Parties at least one year before the expiration of this term, it shall remain valid for an unlimited time.

Each of the Contracting Parties being able to terminate its operation by giving notice to that effect one year in advance.

Text of the Caserta Agreement signed in the presence of General Sir Henry Maitland Wilson, Supreme Allied Commander in the Mediterranean, by General Sarafis leader of E.L.A.S. ,  and General Zervas  leader of E.D.E.S., on September 24^th 1944.

1.     All guerrilla forces in Greece place themselves under the orders of the Greek Government of  National Unity.

2.     The Greek  Government places these forces under the orders General Scobie, nominated by the Supreme Allied Commander as G.O.C. in Greece.

3.     The Greek guerrilla leaders declare that they will forbid any attempt by units under their  command to take the law into their own hands, such action will be treated as a crime and punished accordingly.

4.     As regards Athens no action is to be taken save under the direct orders of General Scobie.

5.     The security battalions are considered as instruments of the enemy .

Unless they surrender according to the order issued by the G.O.C. they will be treated as enemy formations.

6.     All Greek guerrilla forces, in order to put  an end to past rivalries, declare that they will form a national union in order to co-ordinate their activities in the best interests of the common struggle.

Mr Churchill, British Prime Minister, explains the presence of the British in Greece to Greek representatives assembled in Athens on December 26^th 1944.

Why is it we British came here?

          We came with the knowledge and approval of President Roosevelt and Marshal Stalin.

          We also thought that at Gaserta we had the invitation of all Greeks, including the commander of the E.L.A.S. army.

          In those days there were Germans to throw out, and it is quite true that we are in a different situation now.

          That is why we accepted when we were invited to come, that is why I take pains to offer to the delegates of E.L.A.S. the statement  of our position , that we consider we were invited and that we came with good hearts and full hands, with no thought in view but the restoration of Greece to her place, won by hard fighting, in the ranks of the Allies.

When victory is not so distant, why is it we cannot leave ?

          Since we have been here very violent and unexpected troubles have arisen, and we have been involved in them though doing what we believed was our duty.

          That duty we shall discharge inflexibly and faithfully to the end, but do not let anyone have in his mind the idea  that Great Britain desires any material advantages from Greece.

          We do not want an inch of your territory, we seek no commercial advantages save those which are offered by Greece to all the nations of the world.

          We have not the slightest intention of interfering with the way in which normal and tranquil  Greece carries on its affairs.

          Whether Greece is a monarchy or a republic is a matter for the Greeks and the Greeks alone to decide.

          All we wish you is good and good for all.

          What will enable us to leave Greece? Naturally, now that all theses tragic things have happened, we are bound in honour to bring this matter to a good conclusion.

          We must of course ,ask the acceptance and fulfilment of General Scobie’s terms .

          We hope there may be established a broad based Greek Government , representative of the Greek nation, possessed of Sufficient armed power in a Greek  national army , and with Greek police , to preserve itself in Athens until a fair, free general election can be held.

          All we want from Greece is our ancient friendship.

          We thought it would be a good thing to have a talk around a table.

          Therefore we had a talk with M. Papandreou, who in the Lebanon,, he was led to believe was supported by all parties in Greece, and we proposed to him that there should be a conference like this.

          I and Mr Eden have come all this way, although great battles are raging in Belgium and on the German frontier, to make this effort to rescue Greece from her miserable fate and raise her to a point of great fame and repute.

          M. Papandreou said immediately that he would welcome such a conference , and we have all met here now in this city, where at no great distance.

          The next British step was to invite the Archbishop to be chairman of this Greek conference.

          We do not intend to obstruct your deliberations.

          We British and other representatives of the great united victorious Powers will leave you Greeks to your own discussions under this most eminent and venerable citizen, and shall not trouble you unless you send for us again.

          We may wait a little while, but we have many others tasks to perform in this world of terrible storm.

          My hope is, however that the conference which begins here this afternoon in Athens will restore Greece again to her fame and power among the Allies and the peace loving peoples of the world…