M. SKOULOUDIS TALKS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 11578, 23 December 1915, Page 6

M. SKOULOUDIS TALKS.

HEAPS REPROACHES ON ALLIES INTERVIEW WITH MR MARTIN DONOHOE. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. (Received December 23. 2.30 p.m.) LONDON, December 22. Mr Martin Donohoe, writing from Athens, states that he interviewed M. Skonlondis, the new Premier of Greece, who is a cultured, sympathetic and witty conversationalist, replete with virile energy, despite his seventy-eight years. M. Skouloudi's said: "This is the most critical moment in Greek history. The future is as black as night. Greece tried to ' play the same,' as you English say. She sought to see eye to eye with the Entente. If Greece is not fighting whole-heartedly on your side it is because the Entente's statesmen and diplomatists failed in their duty. The Allies flouted Greece instead of placating her, and coquetted with 'Bulgaria, treating Greece disdainfully, with the. result that the Allies have fallen between two stools. If the Allies had frankly asked her aid, Greece would not have hoi.itated for a moment. Instead. England and France began by demanding the sacrifice of Tvavala and Seres to Greece's bitterest foes. When Greece asked to be allowed to co-operate at the Dardanelles, Ve were warned that wc must on no account, dream of marching to Constantinople. We Greeks were forbidden, in deference to Russia, to show our flag within fifty miles of the Byzantine capital. Yet Greece nourishes national dreams and ambitions. Nevertheless, we have not forgotten Gladstone and Byron. Though you hare bullied us, we have turned the other cheek. We warned you of the difficulties and dangers of the Dardanelles expedition. Moreover, we offered a perfected scheme of operations which the Greek general fitaff had worked out long ago in the event of war with Turkey. Vet the Allies ignored and humiliated ns. and when we decided to continue neutral, almost goaded us into hostilities." "You laid an embargo on our commerce, held up our ships jnid suppressed our cables. We are within an ace of starvation, nevertheless we have dcine our utmost for the Allied cause which your blundering, high-handed, hawchtv way permits now. We have to face the problem now of preventing the ingress of the Bulgars. who have an eye upon Kavala. and Seres. We are under no delusions about the retrogression of occupied le.rritory. Paper guarantees are at a discount nowadays." M. Skouloudis added that he contemplates -retiring from the Premiership in favour of .\i. Gounaris. who secured the largest following ;ii the elections.