World News in Story and Picture

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 193, 15 August 1936, Page 3 (Supplement)

World News in Story and Picture

Dictator for Greece? With the King's approval, a military dictatorship has been proclaimed by the Prime Minister, General Metaxas and the Chamber has been dissolved. These measures are attributed to the discovery of a Communist plot. . Another source says they were necessary in order to counteract the calling of a general strike.—Cable.

The trials of modern Greece have been many and varied. Not only Lave a succession of wars interfered with the progress of the country, but internal strife as well. So many wars have given the military heads great

prominence and power in the civil affairs of the country and caused tliem to come in constant conflict with politicians —with the people the sufferers. Not that there has been much to pick and choose between the militarists and the politicians. The former are autocratic and impatient of all opposition to their views, the latter are, in the main, self-seeking and unreliable. Thus, between the two factions the people of Greece have suffered from 1830 (when the country, aided by the English poet, Lord Byron, gained her independence

from Turkey) by the instability of Governments and the consequent uncertainty of everything.

The history of Greece's kings themselves since 1830 has been one of tragedy. The first was expelled from the country after reigning for 29 years. The second was assassinated. The'third reigned twice, being forced to abdicate the second time. The fourth died in tragic circumstances. The fourth, George 11.,' recently returned to Greece to ascend the Throne for the second time, after a plebiscite in his, favour followed a disastrous republican experiment. It is said that Great Britain aided King George to regain his Throne as she needed Greek harbours for the use of her Navy.

King George had not long been in power again before he was beset with troubles of the old order —disputes between the militarists and the professional politicians. Three firebrands in Greek politics, Venizelos, Kondylis and Demerdjis, were recently eliminated through death, but there remains General Metaxas, through whom, in a round-about way, King

I George lost his Throne, only to regain it through hie influence. King George's chief trouble has been attempts to form dictatorships of the Signor Mussolini-King Victor Emmanuel type. Being »a stronger man than his brother king, George resents these attempts. M. Kohdylis attempted a dictatorship with himself as a Greek Mussolini, but King George acted quickly and dismissed him. Now General Metax&s -sees his chance, as the King allows him great power, because, owing to the continued and historical dissention in •the political parties, he is the only man able to form any semblance of a strong Cabinet.

It is possible that the present trouble in Greece, which is blamed on the Communists, may have merely been provided as an excuse by General Metaxas for consolidating his power and proclaiming a dictatorship. Thus, as lias been so unfortunately consistent in the history of modern Greece, the well-being of the people suffers at the hands of a person and person seeking, .nothing but selfadvancement. ,

• It was through the hope tjiat he would stop the bickering of the. politicians who were ruining Greece that King George was recalled to the Throne. Under the circumstances his position is a difficult one, but eo far ha. Has'. achieved great improvements.

King George is often wrongly referred'. to as King George of Greece. Hia correct title is King George of the Hellenes (or of the Greeks), just as Leopold is not the King of Belgium, but the King of the Belgians.

Egypt and Ethiopia. *The political alteration in the. map of Africa through the uniting of Italian Somaliland, Ethiopia and Eritrea as an Italian Empire chiefly concerns Great Britain, France and Egypt. Egypt is the most affected and now has Italian territory marching on -its borders, and that of the Sudan, for hundreds of miles on either side, Libya on the west, Eritrea and Ethiopia to the east and southeast. Egypt ifi wedged in by Italy and, were it not for Britain, at her «ercy.