DRAMATIC STORY

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 61, Issue 45, 3 December 1940, Page 6

DRAMATIC STORY

THE ULTIMATUM TO GREECE.

HANDED TO PREMIER AT DOOR. CALLED BY TELEPHONE RUSE. (Per Press Association). "WELLINGTON, This Day. A dramatic story of how Italy presented an ultimatum to Greece is told by Mr S. Garland (Greek Vice-Consul in New Zealand), who lias just returned from a visit to Australia. While in Sydney Mr Garland was shown at the Consulate official documents which told the whole story. The ultimatum was delivered 1 by a trick, said Mr Garland. In the early hours of the morning the Premier of Greece (General Metaxa) was called from his bed by telephone. He was told the Ambassador for France was speaking, and he had something important to tell him. The General invited the caller round to the house, and when he opened the door the Italian Ambassador thrust the ultimatum into his hand. General Metaxas opened the document. and read Italy’s demands for the handing over ' to Italy of Corfu, Cephalonia, Salonica, Pirius and Crete. General Metaxas did not read further, but exclaimed, “This means war ’ It was then the turn of the Italian Ambassador to register surprise. He expostulated with the Greek Premier and assured him that resistance would be useless. Italy had her air fleet ready, and also her armies, he said, and within three hours she would strike if the demands were not accepted. At this stage General Metaxas did not hesitate. He exclaimed, “come if you dare!” and shut the door on the visitor. Mr Garland said that the resistance by the Greek Government had meant the turning point in the Axis drive to South-Eastern Europe. The heroic successes of the Greek forces had stiffened the attitude of Turkey and had influenced the positions in Bulgaria and Yugoslavia. Had Greece accepted Italy’s terms the whole course of history would have been changed.