AFFAIRS IN GREECE.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 788, 11 April 1910, Page 4

AFFAIRS IN GREECE.

THE MILITARY LEACUE. Writing on the position in Greece caused by tho action of tho Military League, the correspondent of "The Times'•" states:—

Tho origin of the crisis is to be found in the request addressed to M. Venezelo, the well-known Cretan leader, by the Military League to come t</ Athens for the purpose of extricating the officer politicians from an increasingly difficult situation. 11. Venezelo, who possesses a high reputation in Greece for political sagacity, received a similar invitation shortly after, the outbreak of the military revolt last August, but declined to. accept it on the ground that bis presence was needed in his own country. The Cretans, having now made arrangements in view of possible eventualities, M. Venezelo is. more at liberty to devote his attention to Greek politics, which offer an enlarged fieJd for his talents, but he does not intend to accept any administrative post, and proposes to return to .Crete after having settled the affairs of. this country. The problem which M. Venezelo has been asked to solve is no easy one, the dangers of tho internal situation being enhanced by foreign complications. Tho Parliamentary session is .drawing to a, close and.the statutory life of the present Chamber comes to an end in a few weeks. Owing to the resolve of tlhe. Cretans to send deputies to the next Greek Parliament the new elections, Which in ordinary circumstances would take place in March, cannot bo held without risk of provoking a war with Turkey, for which 'Greece is unprepared. A long Parliamentary interregnum, extending perhaps to December, is therefore in prospect, and the Military' League .is unwilling to allow the present Govcrnment_ to exercise- power during this period. The Government has always shown duo deference to the wishes of the league, even ; submitting to the expulsion of M. Triantaphyllakos from the Cabinet, but the officers who have declared war on Parliamentary parties object to the present Cabinet as having been formed on party lines and nominated by the King. League Agrees to Dissolve. _As a remedy for this situation M. venezelo .lias proposed a peculiarly Cretan specific—the convocation of a National. Assembly. .He believes that as the elections to the Assembly can be deferred till December, the danger from Crete can thus be postponed. Meanwhile he proposes that a Cabinet d Affaires, composed of ipersons. approved by the league, and including two members <jf that body, should conduct the. government of the. country and make preparations >fo'r the convocation of the Assembly: After the Aswmbly had completed its labours, the .Military.-'League, having ■ accomplished its work of regeneration, would' dissolve. : M. Venezelo's proposal" was warmly approved by his military clients, but the various ..political leaders to whom ho expounded 'his views insisted that the . dissolution of the league should take . place contemporaneously, with the announcement of the convoca- • tion of - the'"Assembly. : The officers have made less difficulty, in accepting this, condition 'than might have . been expected.-.. In View .of. the uncertainty of the Balkan situation, the somewhat minatory attitude.'of Turkey, and the disposition of- foreign financiers to stand aloof until normal, conditions are- restored Jiorcj 'they are!,now disposed to j?aWJJfi Jeeling that it. :is time for--them to-abandon politics ,wid devote themselves to the military .reorganisation;-of.-tie country.' The declared readiness of the league to dissolve , brought . abopt- a considerable : change.in tho situation,nill. the .political parties being anxious for the disappearance of. the military incubus; and, although the convocation of a NationalAssembly seems open'to grave objection in . the present' circumstances : - of . the country, the view seems to prevaiHnat the. lesser of tho two evils should be , accepted. . ...