HOW IT STARTED

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXIII, 3 December 1940, Page 6

HOW IT STARTED

ITALO-GREEK WAR STORY OF PRESENTING OF ULTIMATUM TOLD BY VICE-CONSUL [United Press Association] WELLINGTON, This Day. A dramatic story of how Italy presented her ultimatum to Greece was told by .Mr Garland, Greek Vice-Con-sult in New Zealand, who has just returned from a visit to Australia. While in Sydney M. Garland was shown official documents at the Consulate which told the whole story. The ultimatum was delivered by a trick, said Mr Garland. In the early houx-s of the morning the Greek Premier. General Metaxas. was called from his bed by the telephone. He was told that the Ambassador of France was speaking, and he had something important to tell him. He invited the caller 1 ; round to the house, and when he opened the door the Italian Ambassador thrust an ultimatum into his hand. General Metaxrys opened the document and read Italy's demands for the handing over to Italy of Corfu. Cephalonia. Salonica. Pirius and Crete. General Metaxas did not read further but exclaimed, “This means war.” It was then the turn of the Italian Ambassador to i*egister surprise. He expostulated with the Greek Premier and assured him that resistance would ; be useless. Italy had her air fleet ready and also her armies, he said, and within three hours she would strike if' the demands were not accepted. At this stage General Metaxas did not hesitate. He exclaimed, “Come if you | dare,” and shut the door on his visitor. M. Garland said that the resistance of the Greek Government had meant 1 the turning point in the Axis drive to south-eastern Europe. The heroic successes of the Greek forces had stiffened the attitude of Turkey and had influenced the positions of Bulgaria and Jugoslavia. Had Gieece accepted Italy’s terms the whole course of history would have been changed.