NEW KING OF GREECE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17105, 10 September 1917, Page 6

NEW KING OF GREECE

.0. AN UNFORTUNATE PHRASE. , HURRIED PROCLAMATION. Some interesting sidelights on the abdication of Constantino were disclosed by M. Jonnort, the Allies' High Commissioner, in an interview given at Athens shortly before his return to Paris. Before going to Greece,_ M. Jonoart visited England and " perceived' that pnbiio opinion was ready and anxious for firm action- In official cirples there was perhaps more disquietude than wo shared m Franco regarding the practicability of bringing about the King's abdication without bloodshed, but -in the sequel these doubts were dispelled." ZAJMIS TOO TALKATIVE. "The force of events hastened everything," said M. Jonnart. " Tentative plana wero, indeed, agreed upon in a general way at Salonika, which -would have brought about the fusion of the two Greek States moro gradually after King Constantino's departure, but some obstacles would not melt, and I soon saw that the only thing was to ask M. Venizelos to come to the Pirteus. M. Zaimia was very helpful and rendered service by remaining as long as he did' in office, but he was hestitant and needed persuasion. I persuaded him to continue in office to take the message demanding his abdication to tho King, and to advise tho King to accept. Wo should have been in an awkward position if there' had been nono to perform thie difficult intermediary task. Justice should be rendered M. Zajmis for his aid in this respect. But he sent that unfortunately-worded telegram to Germany announcing the abdication, _ and was somewhat expansive in _ the ex-King's behalf. I said to him in a friendly manner: 'M. Zaimis, you talk well, but you talk too much; your words and your actions do not agree.'

In reply to an observation that M. Venizolos was accused by his opponents of having rushed the situation, M. Jormart stated that that was unjust approoiation. M. Venizelos never hurried \m hand. He insisted on - final delay before' taking office, though the new Kirwj was ready to receive him three days bt-fore. As to the impression King- Alexander had made upon him, M. Jonnart said: " A good impression. Ho seems to have a clear idea of the 1010 of a constitutional Sovereign. He reasons "well. Ho most willingly listened to a little constitutional lesson. When M. Zaimis refused to consider the question of calling the May 31 Chamber I went to the King and said to him that the obvious and only solution of the situation was the formation of a Ministry under M VemzcloS. ' I quite see that,' he replied, ' I quite understand. I suppose it had better bo farmed as soon as possible.'" THE KING'S PROCLAMATION. "King Alexander's first proclamation was a good intention badly interpreted," added M. Jonnart. "When King Constantino had already consented to leave Greece a crowd of u few thousands of his supporters

gathered round the palace shouting, and the ex-King looking out of the window, said: 'Look at that! I've consented to go, but see the attitude of the people!' This agitation was confined to persons whose k>t was more or less dangerously thrown in with the ex-King's cause, but, nevertheless, I felt that a clear manifestation of the fact that the ex-King had been superseded must be given to the populace. The proclamation in King Alexander's name was the clearest possible manifestation. This was left in M. Zaimis's hands, but unfortunately he seems to have been unable to reach the palace in time, as reservists were causing disorder round his house, and M. Negris, a Cabinet Minister, who happened to be in the palace, hurriedly wrote the proclamation. He was much agitated, and declared that ho was thinking of tie ex-King's success in the Balkan campaign when he used the phrase about 'following .my father's footsteps.' In any case, King Alexander, who was equally agitated, signed without reading it, with the most laudablo intentions, and so the mischief was caused.

"Another mistake was M. Zaimis's statement that King Constantine might return to Greece, He assures me that he made this only in order to try to calm any possible popular excitement, not as a serious statement. It was a piece of valueless hyperbole, as of King Constantino's return there can be no question."

The future of Greece, continued M. Joncart, may be left in the hands of M. Venizelos. "In all my long career as a parliamentarian I have met no statesman of more vivid foresight or with a surer grip of the essentials to a country's progress. One of the greatest results of what has happened here recently ia that Greece not merely gains her old place in our affections and finds her natural leader, but that there will also be available for the general councils of all the Allies the gen has of M. Venizelqs. None, be sure, will take a higher place than her at these councils.''