The Dominion. THURSDAY, MARCH 11, 1915. WHAT WILL GREECE DO?

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2406, 11 March 1915, Page 4

The Dominion. THURSDAY, MARCH 11, 1915. WHAT WILL GREECE DO?

The action of the Allied Fleet in battering its way through the Dardanelles is proving one of the great turning points of the war. The control of this famous waterway between the Black Sea and the Mediterranean carries with it such far-reaching political, military, and commercial possibilities that every Ration in. Eiiropo is watching the progress of events in this theatre of war with intense interest. Now that the Allies are thundering at the gates of Constantinople, the Governments -of Italy and the Balkan States realise that the flood tide of their opportunity has been reached. ,M. Venizelo.?, who has resigned the Promicrihip of Greece because ho was unable to convince the KiNQ that the time for decisive action had come, is evidently of opinion that On such a full sea Greeoe is now afloat, And she must take the current when it SerT-es, Or lose her ventures.

If the chance is lost the future of his country is in serious . danger of being "bound in shallows and in miseries." The King, however, is still halting between two opinions, and is unable "to screw his courage to the sticking-place"; but it is doubtful whether he will be able to resist the pressure of public opinion which strongly supports the advice of M. Venlzelos that Greece should now throw in her lot with the Allies. Tho Crown Council, with, only two dissentients, favoured immediate intervention, and the general impression seems to be that M. Venizelos will soon return to office in order to give effect to (lis policy. In the meantime, a Cabinet has been formed by_ M. Gournais, whose foreign policy, will be neutrality with leanings towards the Triple Entente. It is doubtful whether, in view of the temper of the public mind, he will be able to hold office for any length of time if he adheres to his attitude. The crisis is not yet over, and it is quite possible that the country may refuse to play the part of a looker-on while history is being made on a grand scale. With the peace party the fear of Germany and Austria outweighs the danger of loss of power ahd prestige, which may be the consequehce of a timid adherence to neutrality. In. a great crisis like the: present a/nation that refuses to take any risks cannot expect to secure any gains, and in the case of Greece it may still lose by a policy of neutrality." The sympathies of the Greek Press and people are undoubtedly on the side of the Allies. In the course of a lecturo recently delivered in London, Processor Andreades, chairman of the Athenian branch of the Anglo-Hellenic League, said that the feelings of the. Greeks were gratitude towards England and confidence in her- might. They had been impressed by Mr. Asquith's statement regarding the rights of small nationalities, and did not wait to I see how tho cat would jump before expressing their opinion. Even more important and significant than the | remarks of Professor AndiieAdes were the comments made by the Greek Minister (M. Gennadius), who declared that the Greek tradition of love and admiration for Britain had not been shaken, and that on this miiiltefable attachment to and confidence in England -was based the policy which was guided by that great and powerful statesman in whose hands the destinies of Greece lay. The reference was, of course, to M. Venizelos. The Minister went on to say that the Greeks were not only in sympathy, but were absolutely devoted to tho cause of England in this great crisis, because they were convinced that her cause was just and good for tho World. Sympathy and sentiment, are potent > influences in international affairs, but a nation's interests have also to be taken into considerationr Greece has much to gain and nothing to lose by the success of the Allies. Reference was made to this aspect of the question by Professor Wilkinson in seconding the vote of thanks to Professor AnpreaOes. He stated that the policy of Greece was to retain possession of those lands which she secured as the result of the recent Balkan War, and he though}; she was entitled to the support of Britain in this natural and reasonable desire. A recent Cablegram announced that Greece also wants to obtain possession of Smyrna, in Asia Minor, and that if she decides to enter the fighting arena on the side of the Knic.ntc she would have a very, apod chance of getting hor way in tnis matter,