WHY GREECE DID NOT INTERVENE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 300, 28 May 1915, Page 5

WHY GREECE DID NOT INTERVENE.

M. VENIZKLOS' PROPOSAL TO SEND 50,000 MEN. „„ Rome, March 18. Hie Corriere Delia Sent to-day publishes an interview with Jr. Venizelos, in ' winch tile Greek statesman confirmed tlie report that, lie had resigned as he amis of opinion that Greece should intervene in 11m> will'. He denied, however, lie had hinfed tliat Greece might obtain Constant im>i>lc. 1 lie ex-Premier wild that twice since war broke out the Triple Entente Powers asked (irecce to send men to the help of Sen-ill. The attitude of Bulgaria, however, prevented Greece from , lining no. When (he Dardanelles operations began the 1 riple Kntente Powers Benii-oiricinlly inquired in Athens whether the King was disposed to intervene. Ihe Crown Con nei 1 was convened, and sr - Venizelos proposed that 50,000* men '■ ■ should be sent to aid the Allies against the Turks, and urged that in exchange ; for this help Greece should obtain the Villayet of Smyrna. Owing to the ob- '■ jections raised by the stalf, M. Venizelos reduced his proposal to the suggestion that 15,000 men should be despatched, in addition to the eo-opcration of the (ireek Navy and the use pf a naval baM by the Allies. ' ■/ The Council then asked whether At Venizelos would guarantee the safety of the territory received in compensation In Asia Minor, and M. VenizeloTt pointed to the fact that in recent times he had twice unconditionally engaged the wholo forces of the kingdom and had obtained more than he expected by them. The Council pointed to the impossi- 'i" bility of defending Smyrna against the Turks, hut the ex-Premier showed that if the Allies were victorious Greece would bo the neighbour of Russia and Italy in Asia Minor, and that these three Powers could assist each other against the Turks. M. Veniat.los further affirmed that Germany would not wrest the mastery ui the seas from Great Britain. The COuncil rejected these reasons on ' the ground of the possibility of an invasion of Greece in spite of (lie assar- ' ances to the contrary given last. May ■ by the staff. M. Venizelo« expressed his deep disappointment that Greece should neglect this opportunity, which, he said, might never present itself again. Ho said he! jvould shortly lay his views before a series of public meetings in different parts of Greece.— Router.