THE PLIGHT OF GREECE.

Taranaki Daily News, 24 March 1916, Page 4

THE PLIGHT OF GREECE.

King Constantine and his Ministers now find that the expense of mobilising and keeping mobilised the Greek army has been a greater burden than the country can carry. This is no more than was to be expected. In 1914 the Greek revenue was estimated at £8,800,000, and the expenditure at the same amount, but in 1915 the esitmated revenue had been increased to over £15,000,000, and the expenditure to nearly £18,000,000. Considering that her imports have been exceeding her exports by over a million, it is apparent that to provide for war votes there must have either been heavy taxation or loans, but, as Greek credit is none too good, loans would not bo easy to obtain. For a time the Allies assisted Greece financially, but it is evident that aid is no longer available, and for thiti King Constantino's weakkneed policy is responsible. It appears that now a desperate effort is to be made to raise money by taxing everything possible, and that a request has been made in London for a loan. This would seem to indicate that Germany cannot and will not help the vacillating Constantine. All the money spent by Greece in keeping her army mobilised has been absolutely wasted, and all that has resulted from the mobilisation is an empty exchequer. It would not, therefore, be surprising if the reply to the request for a loan were to the effect that before any financial aid was given the army must be demobilised, or actively used on behalf of the Allies. That is the only way out of an absurd situation that King Constantine has forced on the country. Under present circumstances the Greek army is an inexcusable burden on tlie country, and it is time that the machinations of the pro-German party in Greece wore summarily quashed. H is quite possible that Greek intervention on the Allies' side would now he of little use. Certainly it would not b? worth the cost entailed. It cannot lie considered that any loan would be granted to Greere under present conditions, so that a declaration of her policy may be the outcome of her present financial crisis.