PROSPECTS IN GREECE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22835, 20 March 1936, Page 8

PROSPECTS IN GREECE

The death of M. Venizelos has occurred just at the time when he had expressed himself as reconciled to the restored monarchy in Greece. When King George returned to his country M. Venizelos remained an important and somewhat incalculable factor in Greek political life, in which he had long taken a leading and stormy part prior to the failure of his attempted coup d’etat last year. With the restoration of the King, the Royalist elements and the Republicans and Liberals, who are the Venizelist factions, united under a “ neutral ” or non-party Cabinet. M. Venizelos announced his retirement from politics and declared his acceptance of the regime. When the Republican leaders showed an unwillingness to co-operate with the King, M. Venizelos gave evidence of his good faith by upbraiding them roundly and with good effect. But neither his announced decision to take no further active part in politics nor this practical assurance of goodwill toward the monarchy could entirely eliminate M. Venizelos as a force, and possibly a disruptive force, in Greek national life. The Liberal Party, while acknowledging the new order, owed prior allegiance to the person of M. Venizelos. And the suggestion was implicit in the utterances of the old statesman that he pledged support to the King so long as he “ proved true to his good beginning.” In other words, from his retirement M. Venizelos indicated that King George was more or less on probation. It was not an ideal position for a 'King who is imbued with the desire to rule as a constitutional monarch, uninfluenced by party affiliations. But whether King George liked it or not, he must have been very conscious during the few months since his return to Greece of the power of the Liberals and their deference to M. Venizelos., Their strength was demonstrated in the elections in January, when they won 142 scats to the 143 which went to the Royalists. The death of General Kondylis, the leader of the extreme Royalist group, occurring practically simultaneously with the elections, removed one difficulty from the path of the King in securing a non-party regime. Whether the removal of M. Venizelos finally from the scene will prove to be the other factor required to produce a more settled era remains to be seen. The immediate prospects may seem encouraging. After a period of party bickering, which had continued since the elections, M. Demerdsis, who headed the previous non-party Government, has succeeded in forming a fresh neutral Cabinet. With, owing to the removal of General Kondylis and M. Venizelos, their respective loyalties no longer divided, the two most influential political forces in Greece may conceivably find it possible to meet more closely in harmony, united by a common loyalty to King George IT. But, ns an English journal has observed, faction in Greece produces new heads like the hydra of her own legend, and it will be again a labour of Hercules to destroy its venomous power.