NO BLOCKADE OF GREECE ESTABLISHED

Auckland Star, Volume XLVI, Issue 280, 24 November 1915, Page 5

NO BLOCKADE OF GREECE ESTABLISHED

; GREEK SHIPS FREE TO COME AND 00. * STATEMENT BY BRITISH FOREIGN OFFICE. (Received 8.35 a.m.) LONDON, November 23. The Foreign Office announces that no Greek ships arc being seized or held up in ports of the United Kingdom. No blockade of Greek ports has been ordered. GREEK CRITICISM OF BRITAIN'S ATTITUDE. ENDLESS MfsTAKES AND DELAYS. CONSTANTINE'S FEAR OF GERMAN FRIGHTFTTLNESS. LONDON, November 23. The "Daily Mail's" correspondent at Athens, Mr. Jeffries, had an interview with M. Rallis, Minister for Justice, who declared that it would be madness to suggest that Greece would think of disarming the Allies when the guns of the fleet might be levelled against her cities. Greece was ready to demobilise in 24 hours if the Allies left Salonika. M. Rallis angrily declared that the British Government and - Press were adopting a disgraceful attitude. "You are scoundrels." he added, banging his fish on the table. "You are starving us. You want us to endure the horrors of a Bulgarian invasion and become another Belgium, though no English have shed their blood in Serbia. Only a few thousand troops have been landed to help us after endless mistakes and delays." The interview discloses that King Constantine. under the reasoning of M. Yenizelos. agreed to the original disembarkation of 150,000 allied troops at Salonika. He repented within twenty minutes and sent an aide-de-camp post-haste after M. Yenizelos, who had already informed the British Ambassador of the King's decision. The "Daily Mail's" correspondent says that King Constantine does not love the Germans. He offered to join the Allies in April, when Germany's hands were full, stipulating that the Dardanelles operations should not be undertaken, but that an advance should bo made through Thrace. The Allies did not accept the proposals. Mr. Jeffries quotes King Constantine as saying:—"Whatever happens. France and England will never be too severe on Greece, whereas Germany is implacable. My duty is to save my country from the horrors of Belgium." Greek officials deny the possibility of Greece -attacking or disarming the Allies. They contend that differences with the Allies will soon be adjusted. The Athens correspondent of the London "Daily Telegraph" states that the declaration of the British legation is creating a critical situation. M. Cochin, the French delegate, who had intended leaving with General Sarrail for the front, is returning. There has been a slump in freight for Greek steamers, which have hitherto been in the keenest demand. The fact is more serious because most of the Greek owners arc captains and other private individuals, not companies.