STRONG MAN OF GREECE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 1618, 30 September 1916, Page 4

STRONG MAN OF GREECE.

CAREER OF M. VENTZELOS. FOUNDER OF MODERN STATE. RELATIONS WITH THE KING. In the present tangle of Balkan politics there is one name that stands out above all others, M. Venizelos, who, it is reported, has gone to Crete to place himself at the head of the national revolutionary movement. He has been ranked as one of the leading statesmen of the time, and the position 1m occupies now is all the more remarkable when compared with that he occupied at the outset ot his career. M. Venizelos was born 52 years ago in Cythorn, one of the lonian Islands. At the time of his birth Crete was engaged in one of her most desperate attempts to throw off the Turkish rule, which ended in failure, accompanied by terrible massacres. The tat her ot M. Venizelos was a (’retail, and christened bis son “Eleutherios," signifying liberty and freedom, as expressing the hopes of all the Cretans at that time. Of his early life little is known. He studied law in Athens and Switzerland, and had settled down as a practising lawyer in Crete, when, at the age of twentylive, the iniquity of the Turkish rule aroused him, and from then onwards he employed his lime in agitating both actively and passively, against that rule. He was out as an insurrectionist on many occasions, but he came through untouched in spite of, or more probably on account of, his absolute recklessness of his own life. His efforts were to some extent successful, and Crete was given control of her own affairs, though not without the in-

fervent ion of tlit* Powers. Veni/.elos look the position- of Minister of Finances in the local Government, but in that capacity' lie soon came into collision with Prince George of Greece, the High Commissioner, with whose ideals and methods of governance he had no sympathy. He was an advocate of Crete autonomy as opposed to the annexation to Greece, realising that the latter course would he opposed by all the Powers of Europe, and would only bring about a conHict with Turkey, while autonomy was within the bounds of possibility. When the antagonism between Prince George and himself became acute lie again took to the hills, and organised the party of revolt to such good purpose that Prince George,, in spite of the support of the Concert of Europe, was compelled to leave the island. Veni/e----los then returned to guide the destinies, of Crete, which he controlled with a firm and steady hand, and in doing so had to combat the intrigues of (he Powers of Europe. It was then that he really had his first introduction to the politics of Europe, and he soon showed that he was an adept. OX THE BRINK ()E REVOLUTION. In l!)U!) Greece was in a parlous state and on the brink of revolution. She had not yet recovered front the fiasco of 1807. Her administration, her army, her navy, were all sunk deep in corruption. Her Royal Family,was exceedingly .unpopular, but there were signs that the time of regeneration was at hand. The Military League had come into existence, and was allpowerful in the country. They demanded reforms, but were also'distinctly anti-Royalist. Having no distinguished leader, they invited Veni/.elos to come over from Crete to assist them. Partly because of what he had achieved there, and also since he had ejected Prince George they considered that he was able to get rid of King George from Greece.

Venizelos accepted the invitation, and entered the Greek Parliament. The task before him was enormous, but he set to work boldly, and soon obtained the support of the people. Once that was secured he never again lost it, though he often carried out measures which were against the wishes of Ins supporters, lie refused to overthrow the Royal house, in spile of the fact that in a republic he would undoubtedly have been first president. He restored (he Royal house to favour and placed i), on a firm foundation. Venizelos (hen proceeded to a thorough reform of (he internal condition of Greece, and succeeded beyond ail (he hounds of hope. At the same time he was brought still further into contact with European politics, but bis Cretan experiences stood him in good stead, and he was able to a large extent to frustrate

the attempts on the part of various Powers to keep the Balkans in a state of ferment. THE BALKAN LEAGUE. In order to further strengthen the Balkans against European intrigues he participated in the plan of forming a Balkan League. Once Bulgaria was persuaded the rest was easy, and the first Balkan War was the result. The excellent performance of the Greek army in that and (he second war was due chielly to the reforms which Venizelos had introduced, substituting French for German instructors. The second Balkan War followed the first, and the Treaty of Bucharest fully justified the methods of M. Venizelos, and confirmed him in (he esteem of his people. His conduct of negotiations, both in London and Bucharest, firmly established him in flu* eyes of Europe as one of her balding statesmen. A truly astonishing career, his success in European politics is all the more remarkable; because lie had never been out of the Balkans until after the first Balkan war. His attendance at (he Conference of London ullorded his first opportunity of visiting Prance and England. French he learnt in the course of his law studies; of languages besides Greek he had no acquaintance, but he employed bis spare time, while out as an insurreclory, in. teaching himself English and German, in spile of the fact that he had no one with whom he could speak these languages. ALWAYS TOLD THE TRUTH.

What is I lie secret which has enabled Ibis quite obscure man to obtain this preeminent position? M. Take Jonescue. the leading Roumanian statesman, once asked him this question. “I have always told my citizens the truth, and the whole, truth, and I have always been ready at any moment to relinquish my power without the slightest regret,’ was Ids reply. These characteristics mark him.oiT at once from the ordinary run of statesmen, and there is not lung’ in his career which does not completely confirm his statement. He is inspired by one idea, to bring all the (■hveks under Greek rule, thus giving Greece her true place in the world. He possesses an extreme broadness of outlook, which enables him to look far ahead, and see each crisis as it appears in its proper perspective. He is- tilled- with the true burning spirit of the patriot, and his. wonderful personal magnetism has enabled him to inspire his people with his own feelings, and to sway them to do what he wishes. He has given many notable examples of this power. Venizelos is a mixture of kindliness and ruthlessness. One great, and almost fatal characteristic he possesses, which, is almost inevitable to a spirit such as his —he deals with his opponents as though they were animated with the same altruistic spirit as himself, and this has often proved almost fatal to his success. He is almost too chivalrous to his opponents when they are down. At the time when Austria annexed Bosnia-the Cretans would have declared their annexation to Greece if it had not been for the opposition of Venizelos, who considered that it was taking a mean advantage of the Turks to exploit their misfortunes. He has, naturally, made himself many enemies, chief amongst them the Royal family, who, in spile of the fact (hat, they owe their present position entirely to him, have never fully forgiven him for driving Prince George out of Crete. There is no doubt that this personal ill-will has much to do with the attitude Greece has-taken up in the present crisis.