KING AND VENEZELOS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17286, 29 September 1916, Page 5

KING AND VENEZELOS.

COMMUNICATIONS OPENED. LONDON, September 27. The “ Daily Chronicle’s ” Athens correspondent states that King Constantine has opened .communications' with M. Venezelos.

STATEMENT BY VENEZELOS.

PURELY NATIONAL MOVEMENT.

NOT AIMED AGAINST THE KING. \ ( “The Times" Service. LONDON, September 27. Prior to leaving Athens M. Venezelos made a special statement to a representative of “The Times’’ and announced that he was going to the Greek islands to lead a movement against the Bulgarian invader, who was overrunning Greek Macedonia, maltreating, taking prisoner and murdering the unprotected Greeks, whom tho Greek army had left at his mercy’. M. Venezelos said that he could no longer resist tha cry of his compatriots calling him to save them. He had recently sent a message to King Cortstantine, urging the rescue of. the Greeks, and offering to retire if it would make the path easier. He hesitated taking the supreme step until convinced that those now controlling Greece’s policy did not intend to arm and drive the enemy out. The patriotic Movement was not intended against the King or the dynasty, but was made by those unable longer to stand aside. "It is also,” M. Venezelos added, “the last effort we can make to induce the King to come forth as King of the Hellenes and follow, the path of duty in protecting his subjects.” M. Venezelos feels sure that he can count on the goodwill of the free English people in the decision he is now setting out to accomplish. Tho movement that he and Admiral Ooundouritis are leading is purely national. They exhausted sll legal means to secure integral national action, and if Athens moved in the right direction the Venezelists would assist in everjr possible way. '