PERIL BEFORE GREECE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVII, Issue 17649, 9 December 1920, Page 7

PERIL BEFORE GREECE.

DANGERS OF DISRUPTION.

COMPLICATIONS IN BALKANS. GOVERNMENT VACILLATING. CHOICE LEFT TO EX-KING. By Telegraph— Press Association—Copyright. (Received 9.30 p.m.) A. and N.Z. LONDON. Dec. 7. The diplomatic correspondent of the Daily Telegraph states that, apart from the financial consequences of Constantine' return, Greece is faced with the dingers of secession of the redeemed provinces, in which the Greek Patriarch at Constantinople, who advises against the restoration of the ex-King, is a powerful influence. Already there is a clanger of Crete, lonia, and'other islands seceding. It is doubtful if Britain will cede Cyprus or Italy cede a naval base on Rhodes to Constantinist Greece. The restoration of Constantine may compel Britain to hesitate before altering the present status of Egypt and the military dispositions there. The prospects of a ( onsUntinist regime are causing lively apprehensions in several Balkan States, especially Yugoslavia and Bulgaria, owing to the importance of Greece's Aegean communications. Ex-King Constantine. interviewed bv British correspondents at Lucerne, buoyantly and jestingly discussed his position He. said he would return to Greece immediately he received a summons. His return would unite Greece, and a united Greece would be in the interests of the Allies. His return would not involve a change of foreign policy. Greece wanted to keep what she had got. Therefore she must cultivate good relations with the Allies. He did not intend that Greece should quit Asia Minor. On the contrary he would gladly lead the army there if the Government requested him to do so. He emphatically denied that he intended to appoint M. Venizelos to a high post in Greece. He did not want M. Venizelos, but if at any time M. Venizelos secured a majority he (Constantine) would not hesitate to invite him to form a Cabinet. He wanted to remain neutral in the late war, and he only sent the ex-Kaiser a sympathetic telegram in order to keep him quiet.

Messages from Athens state- that in the plebiscite an unexpectedly large majority favoured the recall of Constantino. In only a few places were hostile votes cast. The results up to the present show 90 per cent, of tie electors voted for Constantine. Three Venizelist daily newspapers have ceased publication. Unprecedented mafficking occurred at the close of the plebiscite. One account describes the events as a saturnalia in which the lowest dregs of the population, especially women, participated. There are contradictory versions of the Government's intentions in view of the Allies' Note. One version states that the Government will persist in Constantine'e recall. Another states that already a message has been sent to the ex-king urging him to abdicate in favour of the Crown Prince. Constantine telegraphed to the Royal family in Athens acknowledging receipt of a long message from M. Rallis, the Greek Prime Minister, who after explaining the situation, left the question of abdication to Constantine. The situation is very acute, and some officials predict a compromise between M. Venizelos and Constantine. THE ALLIES' REPRISALS. EQUIVALENT TO BLOCKADE. A. and N.Z. NEW YORK, Dec. 7. The correspondent of the Chicago Tribune at Athens states that the Allies' action will destroy Greece's foreign credit to such an extent as to have the effect, of a blockade.