The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-10-08
Declares Determination to Keep Faith With Servia
 to Last Drachma
FORMER PREMIER
 OF GREECE CANDID
On Eve of Interview With King Con- stantine, Venizelos Appeared Con- fident of Ability to Put
 Through Programme

The following statement was made to the Associated Press correspondent Tuesday by M Venizelos before his resignation as premier and was filed at the Greek capital short time before the unexpected change in the situation took place:
 Athens. October 5.-(Via Paris, Oc- tober 6.)-At the close of d decisive meeting of the Greek chamber last evening and early this morning Pre- mier Venizelos gave the Associated Press a statement of the policy Greece would pursue in the impending Balkan conflict.
 One thing is certain" said M. ven- lzelos, Greece will abide by the terms of her alliance with Servia not only in letter but in spirit to the last man and the last drachma. The Graeco- Servian treaty foresaw only the possi- bility of a Balkan war When it was made none could predict the present European conflict with its widespread complications. But the spirit of al- liance was one of mutual defense and because the dangers threatening our ''-'' t'N' SeSVu Wfti unlOTeS6en COnQl tions there is no excuse for hiding be- hind the verbiage of the treaty to es- cape the responsibility of our pledge
 Would Remain True
 Though the entire available forces of the central empires bee added to those of Bulgaria in an attempt to crush Servia, Greece will unflinching- " remain true to her passed word. The honor of Greece is at stake You may be certain 1t will not be betrayed
 Nor, indeed has there ever been at bottom the slightest wave ring about the Greek people respecting their re- spons1piI1ty to enter the war in defense or her ally under the terms of alliance although every desperate effort has been made to becloud the issue. The spectacle of part of her press subser- went to foreign influences has shamed and humiliated Greece A people so eager to read-so much so that every bootblack while he shines your shoes IS reading book or newspaper-has been temporarily confused by an in- spired and venal propaganda. But the feeling of loyalty to our national ob- legations never for moment has been really affected. What Greece has said she will do, she will do. She is ready to fight and if Servia needs her she Will fight
 Regarding Saloniki
 Respecting the landing of French troops at Caloniki there is but one thing to be said. We have protected or course. for we have wished to re- main neutral in this European strug- Rle and we wish it now if it were con sistent with our rights and duties. But the Greek people cannot war on France and would not if they could. What France has done for Greece no Greek can forget. Comes now France, ask ing nothing of Greece declaring cate- gorical1y her sole intention is to sup port Greece's ally in the case of a need wherein Greece herself would he bound to support her neighbor. It is something offered, not something asked. Indeed, since I have been pre- mier, l may say quite frankly the en- tente has asqed not one concession of Greece. Therefore when France gives every guarantee respecting the integrity or Greece, when Frances motives for landing troops on Greek soil are ex- plained as in the nature of accomplish Ing the very purpose of Greeces treaty or alliance with Servia, we can see no reason why Greece should resist what she cannot help and what ulti- mately cannot fail to be to her ad . vantage.
 For United Greece
 Tt must not be forgotten that while no sacrifice has been asked of Greece to which her international obligations dc not already impel her. the realization or the dream which sleeps in the heart of every true Greek has been held out to her without conditions. For centuries the Greeks have wanted two things: A free and united Greece and freedom for Greeks wherever they might be. The former we have gained with blood. heroism and sac rifice extending oyer 90 centuries The latter. in larger degree than we could hope to achieve unaided for centuries to come. perhaps, is suddenly made possible to us.
 Who thinks what it would mean to Greece that those of our blood line on the opposite shore may one day soon come under our flag, cannot be indif- ferept to the realization of greater Greece for which we are asked to pay nothing save the keeping of our pledged word to which our honor binds us in any case. This is the position of Greece today which l am more than glad to make clear to America because I have just been approached by Mir. William Hamil- ton of New York with a most generous offer of assistance for Greek refugees on behalf of the American mercy and relief committee. l scarcely know how to ex- press the profound gratitude which I am convinced each of my countrymen will