THE RETURN OF M. VENISELOS

Hokitika Guardian, 27 July 1928, Page 4

THE RETURN OF M. VENISELOS

ANXIETY IN GREECE. (By SIR PERCIVAL PHILLIPS, in the London “ Daily Mail.”) ; ATHENS, June 12. All Greece is watching M. Veniselos with anxious interest. The political crisis inspired by his dramatic return to public life after eight years’ retirement is over, temporarily, at least, but the ultimate effect of his surprising* and unexpected resurrection is still being discussed with perplexity and some foreboding.

; Even friends of the veteran statesman question the wisdom of his return. Some of them, as he told me, urged him to take this step, but it is equally true that others strongly advised against it. The existence of a grave Royalist plot involving the Army is not generally believed. Without this excuse, Mi Veniselos has some difficulty in jusifying-his dislocation of a Coalition Government which had already accomplished much practical good and promised to accomplish much more. Age is against him. His indomitable spirit must rely on a body’ which is more frail and less capable of great strain. The world lias moved since he left politics eight years ago. So have his old colleagues. The loyal and subservient lieutenants of eight years ago have since found their feet and are standing on them’. They remember their old master with loyal affection, but they remember also that he was something of a schoolmaster. It is not easy to fall hack into a subordinate position at thb bidding of an ex-chief who develops new ambitions of his own. ROYALIST ABUSE. Friends as well as enemies tell hie that M. Veniselos wants to be President'of the Republic. 'Hie Royalists say that such a step would disintegrate the country, which now shows at least a : semblance of unity. M. Veniselos himself merely observes that be is not physically capable of undertaking that responsibility. If his medical advisers passed him ns lit, he should undoubtedly accept • the highest post within the power of the nation. Already he lias forecast r general election in the autumn, which is intended to solidify his position and paralyse the Royalists. * A smashing majority, which he hopes for, would carry him as far as lie cared to go.

Naturally the Royalists are furious Their Press is denouncing him as a “murderer” and a “traitor,” and columns are filled daily with abuse of a kind which would never be tolerated in Great’Britain.

The Creek people are sick of continual strife. They have had a surfeit of war, revolution, and national catastrophes. For 18 months there has been peace under a Coalition Government engaged in carrying out schemes for the reconstruction of the national* finances and public services. 'Die nation lias not forgotten M. Veniselos’s invaluable work during the critical years of the war, and afterwards; but it is wondering, not without reason, whether his self-imposed return to the arena may net mean fresh unrest. EX-K 1 KG’S DECT.-A I? ATI OK.

Mi Veniselos declared to me that the f-rrt- and most urgent need of Greco is peace. Everyone agrees. Will he see that this peace is kept, regardless of other considerations? His old supporters, no less than' his enemies, are listening eagerly lor the ansfWeV.

Royalist and Republicans arc about equally divided. A good deal of Royalist sentiment, however, is against the old dynasty. “A King is desired, but a new brand of King,” one exofficial of the late ex-King Ccnstnn fine’s Court said to me.

M. Yeniselos is obviously worried by | the sitrcWßtli of Rbyalist sentiment. I :i'nf assured tlmt lie need not I oar any attempt at a' coup d’etat. The Royalists sity they will never realise their ambition to restore the Throne, except by national c-nsent. The ex-King George ' has himself declared categorically that • lie will never" return to Athens at the | head of a mare faction supported by I, bayonets.

The Army is strongly Republican. In recent months a number of old Royalis' officers have come back, and politics have been put aside for the more important task of consolidating the Army for national defence.