PLAYING THE DOUBLE.

Taranaki Daily News, 13 December 1915, Page 5

PLAYING THE DOUBLE.

POSITION VERY ACUTE. GREECE STILL SHUFFLING THE: PACK. Received Dec. 13, 1.40 a.m. London, Dec. 12. Though diplomatic circles at Athens believed yesterday morning that Greece had at last given the Entente a plain and favorable answer, later reports indicated that this view is over-sanguine. It appears that the Greek attitude is unchanged, but the Entente are more impressed by the latest assurance. Two main questions were outstanding —military and political. The latter must be settled when the Allies decide whether to hold or leave Salonika, but the military problem brooks no delay.

In view of a dramatic and sudden turn of events on the Anglo-French front the Entente Ministers have again urged M. Skouloudis to give a prompt reply, intimating that the War Council in Paris viewed with displeasure the dragging out of profitless pourparlers. These representations were 'backed up by communications from the AngloFrench Governments.

The first reports stated that Greece had accepted the demands, but soon afterwards Reuter's Athens correspond ; ent cabled that M. Skouloudis had made the usual reply that Greece is willing to allow every concession, provided she was not affected in sovereignty or neutrality, but it was stated, on Greek official authority, that the Entente Ministers, at a subsequent discussion, recognised the Government's sincerity in seeking a satisfactory solution, and informed the Premier that coercive'measures would cease.

There the negotiations stand at present. Italian advices from Athens state that General Sarrail is proceeding to Athens to confer with King Constantine and staff regarding the facilities at Salonika. The Allies have constructed telegraphs and telephones, lmt need further liberty of movement. King Constantine seemed better disposed towards the Allies.