THE GREEK ELECTIONS

Southland Times, Issue 18984, 19 November 1920, Page 5

THE GREEK ELECTIONS

NEW PREMIER INTERVIEWED. GREECE BOUND TO THE ALLIED CAUSE. NO CHANGE IN FOREIGN POLICY. (By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright.) (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) LONDON, November 17. (Received November 18, 8 p.m.) The Daily Express’s Athens correspondent had an interview with M. Rallis, who stated that he would make no change in Greece’s foreign policy. Greece’s destiny was bound up with the Allied cause. The Morning Post’s Athens correspondent says that M. Venizeios’s reputation abroad harmed his cause and lent colour to the accusation that he was under the thumb of foreigners. In the eyes of the Greek peasant Constantine stands for peace and plenty, low cost of living, and pre-war conditions generally. CONSTANTINE AWAITING A POPULAR GALL. ALWAYS PRO-BRITISH. LONDON, November 17, (Received November 18, 7.35 p.m.) Interviewed at Lucerne, Constantine said that he would not return to Greece unless ho was recalled by a plebiscite. He declared that he was always pro-British, though misrepresentations ' made it appear otherwise. The Daily News’ correspondent had an interview at Geneva with Constantine, who stated that if the Allies asked the Crown Prince to become king he would make the same answer as his brother Paul. “I have always regarded myself as King of the Hellenes,” be said. “If I return I believe the foreign policy of Greece will be the same as it is to-day. It will be to the interest of Great Britain to have Greece as an ally. It always has been my idea to have Britain as an ally. Owing to Greece’s geographical position I did not want to take part in war either as a friend of Germany or Britain. I wanted to remain neutral. All treaties will be ratified by the new Government. If Mustapha Pasha wants to clear us out of Smyrna we must fight him. Smyrna may !>e one of Venizelos’s acquisitions, but that is no reason why Greece should act against her own. interests.” Constantine says he has never had a penny of the pension of £20,000 which the Allies mentioned when he left Greece. He has never asked for it. STATEMENT BY M. VENIZELOS. THE SOLDIERS’ VOTES. ATHENS, November 17. (Received November 18, 5.5 p.m.)" M. Venizelos says: “ I have done my part, and the Greek people have condemned my policy. I am called a tyrant, but unlike a tyrant I give place to others.” The soldiers’ votes show a great Venizelist majority, and are likely strongly to affect the final results. M, VENIZELOS GOING TO EGYPT. ATHENS, November 17. M. Venizelos has sailed for Egypt on board a Greek, vessel. The Greek diplomatic missions abroad will be recalled.