NEW KING OF GREECE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 1759, 13 September 1917, Page 4

NEW KING OF GREECE.

AN UNFORTUNATE PHRASE.

HURRIED PROCLAMATION.

Some interesting sidelights on the abdication of . Constantine were disclosed by M. Jonnart, the Allies’ High Commissioner, in an interview given in Athens shortly before his return to Paris. Before going to Greece, M. Jonnart visited England and “perceived that public opinion was ready and anxious for firm action. In official circles there was perhaps more disquietude than we shared in France regarding the practicability of bringing about the ICing’s abdication without bloodshed, but in the sequel these doubts were dispelled.” ZAIMIS TOO TALKATIVE,.

“The force of events hastened everything,” said M. Jonnart. “Tentative plans were, indeed, agreed upon in a general way at Salouika, which would have brought about the fusion of the two Greek States more gradually after King Constantine’s departure, but some obstacles would not melt, and 1 soon saw 7 that the only thing was to ask M. Zaimis to come to the Piraeus. M. Zaimis was very helpful, and rendered service by remaining as long as he did in office, but he was hesitant and needed persuasion. I persuaded him to continue in office to take the message demanding his abdication to the King and advise the King to accept. We should have been in an aw T kw r ard position if there had been none to perform this difficult intermediary task. ' Justice should be rendered M. Zaimis for his aid in this respect. But ho sent that un-fortunately-worded telegram to Germany announcing Ilio abdication, and was somewhat expansive on the King’s behalf. I said to him, in a friendly manner: ‘M, Zaimis, you talk well, but you talk too much; your words and your actions do not

agree.’ ”

In reply to an observation that M. Venizelos was accused by his opponents of having rushed the situation, M. Jonnart stated that that was an unjust appreciation. M. Venizelos never hurried his Land. He insisted on final delay before taking office, though the new King was ready to receive him three days before. As to the impression King Alexander had made upon him, M. Jonnart said: —“A good impression. He seems to have a clear idea of the role of a constitutional Sovereign. He reasons well. He most willingly listened to a little constitutional lesson. When SI. Zaimis refused to consider the question of calling the May 31st Chamber, I went to the King and said to him that the obvious and only solution of the situation was the formation of a Ministry under M. Venizelos. T quite see that,’ he replied, ‘I quite understand. I suppose it had better be formed as soon as possible.’ ”

THE KING’S PROCLAMATION,

“King Alexander’s first proclamation was a good intention badly interpreted,” added M. Jonnart. “When King Constantine had already consented to leave Greece a crowd gathered round the palace shouting, and the ex-King, looking out of the window, said: —‘Look at that! I’ve consented to go, but see the attitude of the people!” This agitation was confined to persons whose lot was more or less dangerously thrown in with the ex-King’s cause, but, nevertheless, I felt that a clear manifestation of the fact that the ex-King had been superseded must be given to the populace. The proclamation in King Alexander’s name was the clearest possible manifestation. This was left in M. Zaimis’ hands, but unfortunately he seems to have been unable to reach the palace in time, as reservists were causing disorder round his house, and M. Negris, . a Cabinet Minister, who happened to be in the palace, hurriedly wrote the proclamation, lie was much agitated, and declared that he was thinking of the ex-King’s success in the Balkan campaign when he used the phrase about “following my father’s footsteps.” In any case, King Alexander, who was equally agitated, signed without reading it, with the most laudable intentions, and so the mischief was caused, “Another mistake was M. Zaimis’ statement that King Constantine might return to Greece, He assures me that he made this only 'in order to try to calm any possible popular excitement, not as a serious statement. It was a piece of valueless hyperbole, as of King Constantine’s return there can be no question.” The future of Greece, continued M. Jonnart, may be left in the hands of M. Venizelos. “In all my long

career as a Parliamentarian I have met no statesman of more vivid foresight or with a surer grip of the essentials to a country’s progress. One of the greatest results of what has happened here recently is that Greece not merely gains her old place in our affections and finds her natural leader, but that there will also be available for the general councils of all the allies the genips of M; Venizelos. None, be sure, will take a higher place than he at these councils.”