A NATION RESTORED

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 40, 10 November 1917, Page 6

A NATION RESTORED

. Tin; outlook in the Balkans, though adversely affected by tho defeat inflicted on the Italian main armies, is not without one factor at least which promises to materially strengthen the Allies in that quarter in the near future. Reports transmitted during the last clay or two show that Greece is on the evo of taking up the- part she would have played in 1914 if sho had not been diverted from the path of honour and duty by ex-Kixo Constantine. his consort, and the gang of pro-German plotters by whom they were surrounded. M. Vekizblos is conferring with the Allies with a view to a full mobilisation of the Greek .forces, and a valuable accession of strength is thus pro-; mised in a theatre which before long may witness critical events. While Constant™ still reigned at Athens, several divisions of Greek troops were raised by the Provisional Government at Salonika. Whether these divisions have remained in the field has not recently been made known, but in any case the mobilisation of the whole Greek Army—a force of something like 1500,000 men —will bo an appreciable gain to the Allies, while at tho same time it will afford final proof that the reign of treason in Greece has ended, ft may bo thought that the restored constitutional regime in Greece has been slow in organising the resources of tho nation for effective co-operation with the Entente, but taking account of the state- to which the-country had been reduced by the machinations of Constantine and his faction, it rather seems .remarkable that, such good progress, has been made. When tho ex-Xing took his enforced departure in June last, ho left the nation he had basely betrayed a prey to apparently hope : less confusion and disorganisation. Afc that timo it seemed optimistic to anticipate more than negative benefits from the elimination of German influence in Greece. In stilling internal disorders and dissensions and enabling the Greek people onco more to 'take a united stand in defence of a national policy, M. Vknizelos has performed a great feat of statesmanship. The achievement is tho more meritorious sirjeo tho Greek Premier has consistently abstained from resorting to severo or rigorous measures, even though the adoption of such measures would have been fully justified by tho character aiid tactics of his opponents, and has based his efforts from first to last upon an appeal to justice and reason. Probably no living man has gone further in upholding tho right of frcei speech. On more than one occasion, he has personally intervened to obtain a hearing in tho.. Chamber . of Deputies for the handful of members who still main-, tain a violent opposition to his policy. Nothing has been of greater i service to M. Venizet.os in his task of restoring the unity of Greece than the.publication of the correspondence carried on by Constants and his faction with Germany. Cablegrams received this week show that additions are still being raado to these revelations, but months ago it had been amply demonstrated that the ex-King and his wife, the Kaiser's sister, with their satellites, had descended to the lowest depths of duplicity and treachery. A considerable section of the Greek population clung obstinately to the uelief that Constantine was a misunderstood monarch, who pursued a policy of strict neutrality in or dor to preserve his people from the horrors of war, "amid the bludgeoning of imperialistic belligerents.' But, as one writer observed tho documents published in tho Greek White Book a month or two ago amply confirmed every accusation brought against Consenting by nis bitterest opponents during the last two years of his reign. "Here, adds tho commentator in question, "is unimpeachable evidence of King Constantine's secret communication with Germany and Bulgaria at thevery time when he was professing a 'particularly benevolent neutrality' towards the Entente, andof his determination to betray Serbia, and sacrifice his own'subjects in order to promote the interests of Germany." Tho text of the Greek White Book has not yet reached this country, jut extracts published in British and French newspapers "how, amongst other things, that a fc.w hours before Britain entered the war tho Greek Minister at Berlin was informed by the Kaiser that Germany and Turkey had concluded an alliance. Ho was told also that "Bulgaria and Rumania hkowise range themselves beside Germany, and was directed to_ exhort Gonstantise to follow suit. In subsequent correspondence with his Government, the Greek Minister observed that Germany would not object "to sec us aggrandise ourselves at the expense of Serbia,' _ This correspondence throws lurid light upon the subsequent cold-bloodud betrayal of. Serbia. M. .Venizelos dealt with this subject in a state-,

nient made hi the Chamber uf i)enutics in August last. Referring to his recall to power in August, J!))5, he said: "If the King was obliged to entrust me with power, it was not with the intention of co-operat-ing sincerely -with me, but in order to plot against me." M. Yknizelos was, however, allowed to give now and definite assurances to Serbia and the b'nlcnle "while (as lie further observed) the Central Powers were aware that the policy which Greece would follow would lie diametrically opposed to that which the- responsible Government, enjoying the confidence- of the country, and the afieged confidence, of the Crown, wished to pursue." Bulgaria, ho added, had already satisfied herself that if she attacked Serbia she had nothing to fear on the side of Greece. It is evident that the dispatches summarised in late cablegrams form an important addition to \thc evidence already made public of the part played by Coxstantine and his wife, but this evidence was already conclusive as showing that the ex-King acted throughout as the unscrupulous tool of Germany. Giving prominence to this fact, M. Venizelos has furtlwr strengthened his position by demonstrating that the Allies intervened in Greece only in self-defence, and'in order, as, one authority puts it, to impose some, sort of neutrality on a nest of German intrigue. It is said that the action of the Allies in withdrawing from Greece all their military controls and occupying troops has done even more to strengthen the hands of M. Venizelos than the publication of evidence establishing the guilt of the. old regime. It is a sign of the times in Greece that some ot the Premier , s .followers have outspokenly advocated a republican forniof Government. From this- agitation M. Vbkizelos has withheld bis support, but in a recent reference to the matter he remarked that the Constituent Assembly to be summoned at the v eud of the war would probably 'agree "to preserve, with proper safeguards, the working conditions of a crowned republic." . Of the. probable line of military development in the Balkans it will hardly be possible to speak with much assurance until matters have reached a more definite stage in the Italian theatre, but whatever, course events may take, there is little doubt that Greece will henceforth play a lull part as the loyal partner of the Entente. That it is still _ open to her to redeem her reputation as a nation implies a wonderful achievement by the statesman who is now firmly 're-established in the placo from' which he was dislodged by usuraation, treachery, and intrigue.