The Dominion WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 1915. THE POSITION IN THE NEAR EAST

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2627, 24 November 1915, Page 4

The Dominion WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 1915. THE POSITION IN THE NEAR EAST

The most hopeful news that has reached us for some time is that contained in the message to-day intimating that as tho result of Lord Kitchener's interview with King Constantine, the basis of a satisfactory agreement with Greece has been arrived at. The menace of German intrigue in Greece has been hanging over the Entente Powers ever since the first resignation of M. Venizei,os, but more especially since his second retirement from office. It has cramped and hampered the recent efforts of the AngloFrench movement to assist Serbia, not because.of any particular act on the part of the Greek Government, but because of the-uncertainty which overshadowed the situation. There was always the danger that events might take a turn which would imperil the relations between Greece and the Entente Powers and threaten'the position of the AngloFrench forces based on Salonika, and while that uncertainty existed freedom of action by the forces landed in Greece was largely restricted. Now apparently that menace has been removed, and the Anglo-Frenoh Commander will bo able to use his forces against the enemy with greater freedom and without tho fear of boing_ stabbed in the back by erstwhile friends. At least that is what tho situation appears to be as recorded in to-day's messages. Experience has shown that mere, assurances are not worth muoh nowadays, at any rate from certain quarters, and it may be taken for granted that with the bitter lessons of tho recent past to guide them, the Entente Powers will not be satisfied with anything indefinite or unoertain in the way of guarantees. Assuming 1 that the assurances received by Lord Kitchener are as satisfactory as most certainly would bo demanded, then the change in the Balkan situation may be regarded as full of hopeful possibilities. Greece at present presumably is not pledged to anything more than a friendly neutrality of a positive kind, but it does not follow that there will not be developments of a more favourable oharacter, and that at no distant date. Indeed, it is most probable that Greece, having definitely decided to take the risks of permitting the Entente Powers to operate through her territory under pledge of non-interference, may find it prejudicial to her hopes and aspirations if not dangerous to iher future, to stand aloof. Her fortunes will be largoly dependant on the success of tho Entente Powers, and therefore she may well feel that her safest and most profitable course is to aid to her full capacity with her military rcsourccs.

The position in the Balkans is by no means so favourable to Au3trohopes as some people appear to imagine, Well-informed neutral opinion taiids in' the nmiu to iwjte tho pfiftosite .view, Bulgaria*

on v.'liom the Austro-Germans at present mainly rely, is not the Bulgaria. of the first Balkan war. Mr. .Bducu White, a well-known American Socialist, who has just returned from a. prolonged visit to Turkey and tho Balkan Peninsula, is very emphatic in his view that Bulgaria is weakened not merely by her Russian sympathies and her hatred of Turkey, but by the fact that she is not in shape for a heavy strugglo of any duration. She has not recuperated from her frightful losses of four years ago, and neither in men nor in money is she what she was when she surprised the world by her swift triumph over Turkey's troops. Me. "White, who travelled through the country, also holds the opinion that Bulgaria will be clogged in her efforts by internal disagreement; though he admits that the majority probably favour Germany fot trade reasons. Rumania, which he also visited, dare not, he thinks, decide one way or the other until she sees how matters are going, because of her situation- Threatened by Ilussia on one side, and Austro-Uermany and Bulgaria on the other, he does not expect her to enter tho conflict on either side at present. But the chief advantage possessed by the Entente Powers, according to this American observer, <is the great opportunity afforded them of opening the way to the Black Sea by a quicker and better route than by way of Gallipoli. That is by way_ of the ljort of Salonika. There is no safe a/xl suitable port in winter along tie whole of the coast of Asia Minor or in the Gulf of Saros, or in the Aegean Sea, which the Entente Powers could use for an advance in force against Turkey save Salonika. And tho Entente Powers have now the free use of Salonika, and thus have , open to_ them a new route to Constantinople. Mb. "White gives the why and wherefor of this. •VYe have not space at the moment to go into the details, but we may say that it is evident that he is a keen and exceedingly well informed. Since his views were published, oyer a month ago, many of his anticipations have been realised, notably the use of the pacific blockade of Greece and its effect. We quote one brief extract relating to Greece which to-day reads like prophecy fulfilled:

King Conslantine is avowedly proGerman. . . . But he is helpless, and by stionger compulsion than that of an army with banners. Grecca is in the power of the British Fleet for her food supply. Greece is rich in mountains and poor in wheatfields. Her grain and a large portion of her other foods come from abroad. Tho British Navy could starve her in about a fortnight. And Constantine knows it. Indeed, lie and his were made to feel it this summer in most impressive fashion. I was at Salonika in the latter part of August. The city was in semi-panic. It had on hand a 'bread supply for two days only. England on a pretext had ordered the holding up of wheat transports. It was at the moment when the then new 1 Cabinet was coining in, and had a diplomatic intent. If King Conslantine should persist in his proGermanism he is likely to have on Ins hands a popular revolt of some dimensions. For the British Admiralty will most certainly blockade her. ... It is a safe hazard that Greee will enter the war whenever England gives the word._ And shall Constantine try to provent it, then it will bo so much tho worse for Constantine.

This was written early in October. The British Admiralty has moved and King Constantine has to all appearances modified his attitude. It is too early yet to say what the full outcome will be, but the outlook is decidedly hopeful.