OUTLETS WAITED

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue CXXIII, 10 April 1937, Page 25

OUTLETS WAITED

GREECE INVESTIGATES

Greece is seeking outlets for surplus population, says the Athens correspondent of the "Christian Science Monitor." There is said to be neither room nor sufficient food-growing facilities in the country's 50,000 square miles for a population of 7,000,000 and the Metaxas Government has announced, its determination to find solutions to this problem. Until 1930 Greece hoped to be able ito expand its boundaries, but the Pact :of Friendship and Arbitration, signed [with Turkey in 1930, ,put an end to [these calculations. I Attention was then turned to reclamation and irrigation works, intensive cultivation and development of national ..industry, and to the possibility of emigration.

Irredentism, or the demand for inclusion with Greece of all Greek-speak-ing territories, is no longer seriously considered. General John Metaxas's aim is said to be to improve relationships with neighbouring States. • While the doors of the United, States were open to .emigrants, Greece used to send as many as 20,000 people annually. Sending emigrants to other countries has proved to be highly profitable,to the Greek fatherland, as this country owes its social and economic development in particular to Greeks who have made fortunes abroad. Away from home the Greek often turns into a more ardent patriot. * Before the 10,000 Greek Jews who in the last ten years have emigrated to former homeland established themselves in their, new homes, almost no" commercial transaction • existed between Greece and Palestine, whereas now there is a growing trade activity between the two countries worth at present about 500,000,000 drachmas (£1,100,000) to Greece, besides the remittances sent to relatives left behind to the extent; of over 50,000,000 drachmas annually. Endeavours have been made to secure emigration outlets in certain countries in Asia, ■■■ Africa, and South America, such as Ethiopia, Brazil, Venezuela, and Iran. Before Ethiopia was occupied by Italy, Nicholas Poli--1 tis, Greek Minister to Paris, was delegated: to Addis' Ababa to negotiate i with the Negus the possibility of establishing a certain number of Greeks lin his country. ! The proposal is said to have been I welcomed, but was postponed. It is ;felt unlikely that Italy will favour jany Greek project of colonisation. I-Mr. • Politis was recently in Brazil I where he studied the possibilities of I sending • .to that country a Greek colony of workers and cultivators. The opportunity there, specially for farming ■ hands, is very great, .Mr. Politis says in a report. Brazil, he explains, is a highly fertile country and has a very scant population in comparison with its vast area.

Accords are soon to be signed with Iran with" the purpose of sending Greek emigrants to that country to be established on farms.