THE POSITION IN GREECE.

Taranaki Daily News, 1 May 1917, Page 4

THE POSITION IN GREECE.

An interesting survey of the position in Greece, the more interesting in view of the present report, that Constantine is trying to make terms with the Allies, is contributed to the New York Tribune by Professor Aravantinos, of Athens University, who was sent to America by Venezelos as Envoy Extraordinary from the Provisional Government at Salonika. •'Greece is still often referred to in tho press as a single State," ho says. "In reality, however, Greece as such has ceased to ex'ist since September 11, 1010. There is no longer one Greece, but two divided sections, each having its own government, and separated from each other by a neutral zone. One government is located in Athens and is headed by King Constantine, who shapes its policies according to his personal views and aspirations. The other government has its headquarters in Salonika, and is tho direct choice of the Greek people. Under the presidency of Venezelos it is carrying out the national policies of Greece. The independent existence of the mrt of Greece governed by Venezelos is not a more detail in the national life of the country, but a fact of great historic import. The government of Salonika has been recognised by the United States as de facto, the American Consul at Salonika having received instructions from Washington to put himself in communication with it. The legality of this government has been recognised by all the Entente Powers, which hatfe established diplomatic intercourse with the Venezelos government, going as far as loaaing it considerable sums of money. The relations between the Allies and the Salonika government are most cordial, while those of the Allies md the Athens government are strained to the extreme The division of Creese into two separate sections does not harmonise with the Greek people's ideas and wishes. It would be, indeed, an incomprehensible phenomenon from the point of view of modern Greek history. But a deeper study of the situation will reveal tho fact' that conditions in Greece are the result of decomposing influences from without. These influences are the old forces of Prussian militarism. Prussianism considers all small States and nations a hindrance in its path of world domination. It is only a natural sequence to Germany's Weltpolitik that the national, social, economic and even domestic decomposition that occurred in Belgium, Montenegro, Serbia, and Roumania under the roar of Prussian guns should have had a similar effect on peaceful Greece. The section of Greece

under the control of the provisional government is about twice as large as that under the King. It is also the part richest in agricultural and commercial resources. It is .fully self-nufliciont, its income being more than enough to cover all administrative expenses. Tho army under the control of the King at the present moment does not exceed 20,000 men. The provisional government, on the other hand, has an army of about 70,000, part of which is now fighting the Bulgarians on the side of the Allies."