The Daily News. MONDAY, OCTOBER 11, 1915. KINO CONSTANTINE'S RISKY EXPERIMENT.

Taranaki Daily News, 11 October 1915, Page 4

The Daily News. MONDAY, OCTOBER 11, 1915. KINO CONSTANTINE'S RISKY EXPERIMENT.

Greece is in the unfortunate position of having a King who is not a Greek and a Queen who ia a sister of Uie German Emperor, but. she is fortunate in having a strong statesman in M. Venizelos as leader of the popular party. That the great majority of the people are in favor of intervention against the Germans and Ilu'garians is abundantly in evidence by their declaring so emphatically in favor of M. Venizelos at the recent elections, but King Constantine is so greatly under German influence that he has set aside the verdict of the people and elected to follow u policy which is ostensibly one of benevolent neutrality toward.? (he Entente Powers, but is really devised to play into the hands of the AustroOermans by gaining time for their operations against Servia and the Allies, fur the second time within a year 11. Venizelos and the King of Greece have come to the parting of the ways, and the popular l'remier leas liad to resign, '•'bus we have Die unusual spectacle of the great majority of a nation being in full sympathy with the cause of right, nliilc the King, the commercialists, and (he pro-Germans arc leaning 011 what they regard as the prevailing might. It must bo remembered that the Greeks are at heart a democratic people who know what they want, and it is extremely doubtful if they will tamely submit to be thwarted in their desires by German influence and intrigue, especially as they are a high spirited and brave people. It was M. Venizelos' policy of intervention that led to his resignation before the elections, lie had endeavored to arrange matters with Hulgaria, but had failed. JTe had championed Servia's cause, and is still heart, and soul with it, bill for the moment the King has set him aside. In taking such an arbitrary action King Constantine is running a great risk, for he is opposing the will of the people, who have no inherent reverence fur the I'hen rulers of their country. The Greek ruler is staking his kingdom on a very slender hazard at the bidding at the Kaiser. It is well known that German money was utilised to the utmost during (lie recent elections to bring about the downfall of it. Venizelos and his party, but they emerged triumphant and XI. Venizelos returned to power, only to be (■nee more set aside. On both occasions of .M. Venizelos' resignation the King sent for M. Zaimis to form a Cabinet, bat 011 the former he declined, though he lias now consented to get together a Coalition Ministry. M. Zaimis is a financier who is believed to be honestly ■ntcrested in the welfare of his country, in.t as a financier he is naturally averse to war. He could, of course, rely on -• he Opposition for support in the maintenance of neutrality, but that would not keep him in olliec unless he can formulate a policy that will win over the Venizelos party, or such a large se-tion as would give him a working majority. lie cannot possibly hope to change the opinion of the nation as a whole, and it is the people with whom the King will have to reckon. They returned 11. Venizelos to power by a large e ajority, well knowing what his policy meant. and unless the Wrecks have deteriorated very rapidly of late it is hardly likely that they will consent to bfconie a mere catspaw of Germany, '."he position, is one of gravity, for a crisis may arise at any moment, and should a conflict between the King and the people take place there is every irospect that the army will side with the people, and then an obstinate monarch will tinil out what is the penalty for thwarting (he nation. Unfortunately time is precious. The assistance of the Greek army would be of great service (0 Serbia and the Allies at this moment, and the early downfall of pro-Germanism is much to be desired. M. Venizelos is still a power in Greece, and it is to be hoped that before long he will again control tile destinies of th« secpifc