CONSTANTINE'S RETURN.

Auckland Star, Volume LI, Issue 294, 9 December 1920, Page 5

CONSTANTINE'S RETURN.

I . MAY DISINTEGRATE GREECE. NOT WANTED IN NEW AREAS. BALKAN APPREHENSIONS. (By Cable.—Press Association.—Copyright. , ) LONDON", December S. 'Hie diplomatic correspondent of the "Daily TelegTaph' , states that, apart from the financial consequences of exKing Constantino's return, Greece is faced with thf dangers of secession of the redeemed provinces, in which the Greek Patriarch at I onstantinople. who advise?. against -th* restoration of the ex-King, is a powerful influence. Already there is a danger of Crete. lonia, and other islands seceding. It is doubtful if Britain will cede Cyprus, or Italy cede. a naval base on Rhodes to Constantinist Greece. The restoration of Constantine may compel Britain to hesitate before altering tlie present status of Kpypt and the military dispositions there. The prospects of a Constantinist regime are causing lively apprehensions in several Balkan States, especially Jugoslavia and Bulgaria. o«ing to the importance of Greece's Aegean communications. Ex-King Constantine. interviewed by Briti>h correspondents at I.ui-erne. buoyantly and jestingly discussed his position. He said he would return to Greece immediately he received a summons. His return would unite Greece, and a united Greece would be in the interests of the Allies. His return would not involve a change of foreign policy. Greece wanted to keep what she had got. Therefore she must cultivate good relations with the Allies. He did not intend that Greece should quit Asia Minor. On the contrary he would gladly lea,l the army there if the Government requested him to do so. He emphatically'denied that he intended to appoint M. Yenizelos to a high post in Greece. He did not want M. Yenizelos, but if at any time M. Venizelos secured a majority he (Constantine) would not hesitate to invite him to form a Cabinet. He wanted to remain neutral in the late war, and he only sent the ex-Kaiser a sympathetic telegram in order to keep him quiet.— (A. and X.Z.) AN UNCONFIRMED REPORT. (Received II.IW a.m.! The British Government and the Greek Legation in London have not received confirmation of the report that the Greek Government asked Constantine to abdicate. Both quarters are sceptical.—(A. and N.Z. Cable.)