GREEK POLITICS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23058, 8 June 1938, Page 6

GREEK POLITICS

NUMEROUS CHANGES RETURN TO MONARCHY STRINGENT DICTATORSHIP "Political life in Greece centres around the sidewalk cafes, where more political fortunes are made and lost than the world realises," said Mrs. J. C. M. Humphrey, who arrived at Auckland ..this "week in company with her husband. Both Mr. and Mrs. Humphrey have livefi for some time in Greece. After spending a fortnight touring in New Zealand Mrs. Humphrey will return to London, via Australia and the East. "The political variations of Greece no longer startle the world," continued Mrs. Humphrey. "It has been a monarchy, a republic and now again a monarchy—with a great difference. "With the recall of King George 11. in 1935 the monarchy was restored and with the action in 1936 of tho Prime Minister, General Jean Metaxaa, in decreeing military law, there is a virtual military dictatorship that has little to equal it in the world to-day. Precarious Living "One of the strangest features of this unusual system is that the Greeks, one of the most individualistic peoples in tho world, are governed by what is actually a stringent dictatorship," said Mrs. Humphrey. "Everyone is wondering how long it will last. Certainly living under General Metaxas' regime is precarious. The dictatorship was formed because of the alleged Communist menace, but the people themselves desire neither extreme." Speaking of tho Greeks, Mrs. Humphrey said that, contrary to general belief, they were not lazy. Tho who actually formed the solid note in tho country, were very hard-working indeed. They were, however, extremely friendly and cheerful and most hospitable to strangers. "When it is realised that over 7,000,000 people are seeking a living in a dry and mountainous country with a very low proportion of arable land, it is easily understood that the Greeks cannot afford to be lazy," said Mrs. Humphrey. Modern Athens Athens itself was still very beautiful, she added, 'while the modernised quarter was quite in keeping with the character of the country. The ruins of the ancient Acropolis and other classic Byzantine, Venetian and Turkish ruins" scattered over the countryside still held a strong appeal for tourists. Mrs. Humphrey had on one occasion visited the famous > Mount Athos, although she was permitted to see it only a distance, as no women were allowed inside the great building, where 5000 monks lived a life which had varied little from the middle ages. Permission had to be gained from the Government and from tho Patriarch of the Greek Orthodox Church, and the journey was made on mule-back.