The Dominion. WEDNESDAY, JULY 19, 1916. THE POSSIBILITIES IN GREECE

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2827, 19 July 1916, Page 4

The Dominion. WEDNESDAY, JULY 19, 1916. THE POSSIBILITIES IN GREECE

The political situation in Greccc is at present of very great interest in view of .the coming general elections. The Germans naturally aro very anxious to secure the defeat of tho Venizelists, and a recent cablegram stated that German money is being spent .freely, and that German agents aro resorting to corrupt practices in the hope of. keeping the reins of government out' of the hands of M. Venizelos. The election campaign is taking place at a critical moment, for in view of the recent and continued successes of the Entente Powers, both in the West and East, and also, in Asia Minor, the neutral Balkan States, which have been balancing between the belligerents, may find their doubts as to the best course td pursue removed. Evidently the opinion is held in Germany that the time is opportune for_ tho Entente Allies to make a political move in tho Balkans, for a leading Berlin newspaper has just expressed the view ' that thexAilics will ronew their endeavours to induce Greece and Rumania to participate in the war. Whatever ground there may bo for this opinion, it at least shows that Germany is not at all satisfied with the trend of events. It will be remembered that the relations between the Allies and the Greek Government recently reached ah acute stage. The Allies felt that the time had arrived for a clear understanding with Greece. They had good reason to believe that tho then existing Cabinet was in collusion with the enemy. They mado certain demands and backed them up by effective pressure in the shape of a blockade, and the Greek Government protested, but yielded. Tho Allies insisted upon the general demobilisation of the Greek forces, the immediate dissolution o£ Parliament. a general election, end the replacement of certain persons in high authority; The Parliament that was dissolved in accordance with theso demands could not by any stretch of the most elastic imagination bo regarded as representing the sentiments of the nation. The last election was conducted in such a grossly unfair and unconstitutional way that the Venizelists refused to go to the poll. In insisting upon a fresh election tho Entente Powers declared that tho constitution of Greece had been disregarded, and that the Chamber did not reflect tho true opinion of the people. It may be taken for granted that all that Germany bribery and intrigue can do will be done to secure the return of a Parliament opposed to M. Venizelos, and if, in spito of all this corruption, the Venizelists sccuro a majority, the Kino may then use all his powers, as ho did on a pre-' vious occasion, to checkmate tho now Government and present any alteration in foreign policy that may bo favourable to the cause of the Allies. But perhaps recent may have caused him to reconsider his attitude.

It is quite possible that the Allins may, if necessary, take steps to compel Kino Oonstantine to'givc effect to the will of Parliament'as far as the war is concerned. The King recently declared tha.t he. acted entirely within his rights in dissolving Parliament twice in rapid succession, and asserted that he would continue to cxcreisc this right as often as he considered it nccessary for tho country's welfare. This practically means the suspension oE the constitution, inasmuch as no Parliament that would not do the

King's bidding would be allowed to exorcise its functions. M. Venizelos has very pertinently' pointed out that such an unlimited prerogative is possessed by tho King s of Prussia, but not by the King of the Hellenes. In Greccc tho people are; tho sovereign judgo of what is necessary for the country's welfare. This is undoubtedly the constitutional position, arid if King Constantino persists in overriding the constitution it is quite possiblo that the Allies may s adopt measures for bringing him to a moro reasonable and less autocratic fratno of mind. There is a. strong belief in Government circles that the King is determined at all costs prevent M. Venizelos from returning to power. Indeed, it is stated that the King has declared that as long as ho remains on the throne of Greece M. Venizelos will be kept out of office. If this is true, then serious internal trouble is by no means unlikely. A special correspondent of tho Morning Post states that there cannot be the slightest doubt that unless anything untoward happens to M. Venizelos in tho meantimo_ the coming elections will return him at the head of a powerful majority, and he adds that it would be folly for anyone who was not prepared to deluge Greece in the blood of her citizens_ to think of setting himself up against the sovereign will of a frc(i people, , from whom, in the words of the Greek constitution, "all authority in the State emanates." Tho present election campaign is practically a struggle between the King and M. Venizelos. In tho two previous elections tho King's name was the rallying cry of the anti-Vcnizelist factions. 'For some time past efforts have bceii made to place the army completely within tho King's grip in order that he may use it against tho peoplo if the need should arise. 1 But tho army has now been demobilised, and the Allies appear to be determined to see that the constitution shall be respected. They have made it very, clear to King Constantine and the pvo-German party that they will not permit Greeoe to play tho gamo of tho Central 'Powers without paying a heavy price. The coming election may prove" a turning point as far as ■ Greece is concerned, but the personal popularity of King Constantine and the bribery and corruption practised by German agents are formidable obstacles to that sweeping success which the -supporters of M. Venizelos are so hopeful of winning.