CAUTIOUS NEUTRALS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVI, Issue 16808, 18 March 1915, Page 6

CAUTIOUS NEUTRALS.

Ik the cable messages this morning j there is a summary of an Italian jour- , nalist's interview with M. Venesselos, the Greok I statesman, in which the position of Greeco in regard to tho war is stated with unexpected candour. It is possible, indeed' probable, that the Greek patriot's views have been given rather more definitely than ho expressed them, but tho summary appears to state with sufficient accuracy tlie general course of the negotiations. That Greece has been in. close touch with tho Entente Powers is certain, and her hesitation in entering the war hitherto has been readily explained. If she had gono to the assistance of Serbia and Montenegro, she might have found herself opposed by Bulgaria, concerning whose attitude there has always been considerable doubt. ' Moreover, until quite recently tho attitude of Italy has been undefined', and the Greek Government may easily have road the Italian activity in Albania as an indication that Italy would take advantage of Greek preoccupation to establish a permanent settlement on the Albanian side of the Adriatic. But this is not the whole story. There is good reason to believe that during the past six or seven months persistent efforts have been made to patch up the quarrels of the members of the Balkan League of 1912. The good offices of Rumania and Italy were sought in this matter, Russian, British'and French envoys have visited the Balkan capitals, and Greok, Serbian and Rumanian missions have been abroad from time to time. The facta of the negotiations are not likely to be made public, but prominent Rumanian publicists have given an indi-

cation of the course of the earlier proposals, and in January it was stated that Rumania, and Italy were still working on a common policy. Evidently it was hoped that when tlio Allies carried tho war against Turkey into Asia tho Greek objection to participation would bo removed, and M. Tenezelos has made it clear that he and his colleagues were prepared to send" an army corps to co-operate with the British and French forces. If this policy had been carried out, Greeco would still have had fifty thousand trained or partly trained troops for home defence, ♦'or the present, however, Greeco is to maintain her neutrality, and evidently there is still a doubt as to the position of Bulgaria. That Bulgaria has backed the wrong horse must have become apparent even in Sofia. The dramatic attack on the Dardanelles will bring home to the pro-Teutonic politicians the greatness of the opportunity they have missed. By standing in with France, Britain and Russia, Bulgaria would certainly acquire the whole of Thrace, with direct access to Constantinople, although it is unlikely that the Allies would consent to any, one Power securing control of the Bosphorus and the Dardanelles. As for Italy's position, there have been persistent stories of late of negotiations between the Teutonic Powers and Rome, according to which Austria, has even offered to relinquish the Trentino to Italy. There is no sound reason for accepting this statement as reliable, and we may take it that if Italy is to extend her frontier it will be by direct action on the side of the Entente.