The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. WEDNESDAY, MAY 30, 1928. VENIZELOZ.

Hokitika Guardian, 30 May 1928, Page 2

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. WEDNESDAY, MAY 30, 1928. VENIZELOZ.

M. Vknizkj.os was one of the outstanding figures of the war period. The man who has been described as “the Bismarck of Greece” and “the greatest European statesman of the war period” has come back to public life in Athens, and the immediate consequence of his reappearance on the political stage has been the resignation of the Government. There is no proof that the country has yet lost confidence in M. Zaimos, who has been Prime Minister eight times. But most of the Cabinet are attached to the Liberal Party, and the reappearance of the old Liberal statesman lias produced on them much tho same effect as Napoleon's return from Elba on the soldiers of the “grande nrmee.” With one accord the Liberals are hailing Venizelos ns their leader, and champion. and ho is expected to form a new Government at once. Jt is not- to be expected that tho political opponents of Venizelos will welcome him. Venizelos has always set himself against an aggressive foreign policy, and is therefore unpopulad with the army. Also, as a strong supporter of constitutional government, he has opposed vigorously the various military dictatorships established at Athens since the war. The Republicans, on the other hand, suspect that Venizelos might under some circumstances favour a return to monarchy; and apart from this they fear that “the maker of modern Greece” might speedily overshadow all rivals and opponents so completely that it would be easy for him to set himself up as Dictator, in fact if not in name. However, these fears appear groundess According to the latest cabht.l • news, M. Venizelos has offered to resign the leadership of the Liberals and to quit Greece if the Royal Parties will unreservedly accept the Republic. M. Venizelos agrees to the Cabinet’s reconstruction, which be will tolerate, if a Bill substituting a Senate is promptly passed. The statesman, no doubt, has his own ambitions, but during the time of greatest stress, lie was the figure who saved Greece from herself. Venizelos is recognised throughout Europe as a statesman of the highest order, and the record of his public career fully justifies the claim. He liberated Crete, he reconstructed Greece in a political and administrative sense, he formed the Balkan League and so ensured the overthrow of Turkey and the emancipation of the Balkan Slavs, and throughout the war be threw the whole of his great influence into the struggle on the side of the Allies. That he failed to convince Constantine of the wisdom of his policy was not his fault. After the flight of the King his own administration of affairs was unsuccessful because he trusted too largely to unworthy or inefficient subordinates. But he is still justly recognised as the greatest man that Greece has produced in modern times, and his return to public life is an event of first-class importance in the diplomatic world. Whether remaining in Greece, or not, ho must exercise a considerable influence on the policy of the country, for he has a following evidently which is not to he denied. At the moment he can evidently make and unmake the Ministry, so there is no doubt about his political prestige. However, being essentially a patriot, and with due regard for his national record, he may be expected to do wliat is right and honourable in the general interests of his country which has l>oen subjected to so many internal vicissitudes of late years, and a healthy period for recuperation would surely he welcome.