NOTES AND COMMENTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 16483, 8 March 1917, Page 6

NOTES AND COMMENTS.

o GREECE AND ITALY. Discussing the interests of Italy end Greece in the Balkans, M. Venizelos said:—" I consider that our national claims to Northern Epirus are in no wise incompatible with the vital interests of Italy, which impose upon her the necessity for possessing the mastery of the entrance of tho Adriatic. This mastery is issnred to Italy by tho possession of i'alona and by that of the island of Saseno. In this connection I wish to ecall that during the Balkan wars, when t was believed in Italy that we Greeks lad aims at Valona, I, who was then Prime Minister, hastened to declare to the ] Italian Government that wo had no such j lims, and that, in any case, tho Adriatic ay outside our political sphere. And, as ; perfectly understood Italy's vita) intersts in occupying Valona, I never dreamed d raising difficulties about her occupation if the island of Saseno. More than that, i n December, 1913, in a conversation with I be then Italian Foreign Minister, the ate Marchesse Di San Giuliano, I again leclared that Greece, far from raising obections, would bo glad to see Italy stablished at Valona. I know that there xists at tho ConsuUa a copy of this con- J ersation. By thus recognising Italy's ight to Valona, the island of Saseno, and , hinterland necessary from the strategic tandpoint, I admitted this to be a quesion of political interest. But Northern ipirus is for ns a different matter. For a the possession of Northern Epirus is a noral question, and one of patriotic sentiaent. To show the clearness of my lolicy, when I ordered the Greek troops o re-enter Northern Epirus I did so only Iter an accord with the Italian Governsent, indirectly through the medium of Ireat Britain. Without Italy's consent I ?ould never have allowed them to enter, further, I told all the Powers that tho uestion of Northern Epirus ought to bo übmitted to the general peace confernee." When asked what ho considered hould be the basis of a Grace-Italian I greement, more especially with regard to he -Sgeaa and Eastern Mediterranean, . ■ .-■/...' ." :, j

: M.' Venizelos said that tho basis of this . should be " respect for the . principle of nationality." '.'The question of .the Dode- ■ canese," occupied by Italy f since 1912, ho , added, "touches the heart of the Greek people, became the 13 occupied islands are profoundly Greek in origin, sentiments and culture.' Nevertheless, during the Balkan wars I initiated negotiations with Count Bosdari, the Italian Minister at Athens, for an arrangement.'" This compromise consisted in M. Venizelos's suggestion that Italy should, if she considered that strategic reasons rendered it necessary, occupy the island of Stampalia, with its two fino harbours, and ono other island. "I do not understand," conI eluded M. Venizelos, " why Italy's policy should be so diffident towards us. What could little Greece, even if she became a nation of 6,000,000, do to a great Italy, with 60,000,000 ?—for that will be her population in 50 years' time. Wo expect a little more sympathy from a great sister nation, for wo aro fighting the same battle." AUSTRIA'S PLIGHT. A curious light is thrown on tho state of things in Austria by a letter from , Vienna, published in an Italian newspaper. | Tho letter, written by an Austrian poliI tician, says :—" If a referendum could he I taken among our patriots, including those j who have on their conscience to-day's catastrophe, I believe that all of them would bo disposed to sacrifice., without much remorse, any slice of territory to issue as soon as possible from the present horrible situation. Our patriots do not I confess it openly, because they are afraid, I not of our own authorities, who at bottom 1 think as they do, but of our unspeakablo I protectors in Berlin. The latter, themJ selves, take no other view, and are the first to give us to understand, without an apology, that if any concessions are to be mado they will be at our expense They only hesitate to say so openly for fear of making the enemy moro exacting, and demanding, perhaps, Bomo German territory too. Hence they shout to the four winds; 'We aro victorious, and ever victorious, I and it is only out of magnanimity that we offer peace,' Our protectors aro mistaken, though, if they think that tho world is ■ ! still afraid of them, and that we shall j submit much longer to having to fight tho (battles of the Roi de Prusso."