NEUTRALITY OF GREECE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 1535, 13 April 1916, Page 4

NEUTRALITY OF GREECE.

The policy of Greece was recently under debate in the Chamber of Deputies. The Prime Minister, M. Skouloudis, reasserted the determination of the Greek Government to abide by the policy that had hitherto been pursued. After some discussion a vote of confidence in the Government was adopted. In the course of his speech M. Skouloudis declared that the effect of Greek policy so far had been to preserve intact the strength of the country, and to ensure its being utilised exclusively in the best interests of Greece. Events had fully justified this policy. It was approved by the Greek people, which was in favour of its continuation, as being calculated to avert from Greece the danger that threaten her in consequence of the European conflict. The policy of neutrality would be pursued, despite any pressure that might be exerted from outside in the hope of compelling Greece to take part in the struggle, contrary to her own interests. M. Skouloudis protested against the landing of allied forces in Corfu and at Kara Burnu, south of Salonika, which he described as an encroachment upon Greek sovereign rights. A member of the House objected that the manner in which the policy.of neutrality was practised by Greece made her an object of suspicion to the Entente Powers, and provoked the pressure which rendered the maintenance of this policy problematical. 'He declared that Mr Gounaris, when be held office as Eremier, made proposals to the Entente Powers amounting to an offer that Greece should abandon her neutrality. All that he asked in return was a guarantee of territorial integrity. M.jGouniis replied that, if he were at liberty to disclose the terms upon which he had been willing that Greece should emerge from her neutrality, his policy would be justified.