New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-06-15
Greece Calls Back Venizelos.

ventioniSt party has captured hagoi''S
of the seats in the lower branch Of the
Greek Parliament. This, Of course, means
the return to power within brief period
Of Venizelos, the Cretan patriot, the
builder Of the Greece Of to-day, the most
clear-sighted and courageous Of Near
Eastern statesmen.
It is said to be within the power Of the
government to postpone for forty days the
assembling Of the new Chamber. Yet it
is more likely that King Constantine,
whose break with Venizelos led TO the dis
solution of the last Parliament, will frank
" accept the verdict of the nation, now
rendered in q constitutional manner.
An opportunity is now offered to the
King to withdraw gracefully his opposi-
ton to Greek intervention at this time on
the side Of the Allies. He may have felt
unjustifed in consenting TO participation
in the war without popular referendum.
That referendum has been taken under cir
cumstances which have fully tested the
war spirit Of the nation, since the ministry
which came into office when Venizelos re-
tired has stood openly for neutrality Of
the "watchful waiting" order and has had
the firm support Of the King and major
ity Of his military advisers. If popular
sentiment for immediate action has been
strong enough 70 triumph over all these
obstacles, the King must either respect
il or try to rule automatically in de-
fance Of the coustitutionally ascertained
will of the nation.
A constitutional monarch could not well
afford to do that. Moreover, many things
have happened since King Constantine re-
fused his assent last April TO the VenizelOs
programme of immediate Intervention.
Since then the Allies have landed an expe-
dictionary army on the Galhpoh Peninsula
and are seriously threatening CONSTANT
nople from the land side. Italy has also
entered the war, thus greatly increasing
the power Of the Allies in the Eastern
Mediterranean and helping further to
guarantee Greece, as a belligerent, from
any surprise attack on the part Of Bull
garia.
The King and his military advisers held
that Greece could not safely assist in max
ing war on Turkey while the possibility
remained Of Bulgarian raid on the Bull
gar portions Of Macedonia, annexed by
Greece after the Second Balkan War. At
that time the allied fleets had just failed
in their attempt to force the Dardanelles,
and Greece would have had TO bear large
part of the burden Of land attack in the
Gallipoli Peninsula. But with probably
100000 British and French troops now
securely established on Turkish soil, with
bases from which they could easily threat
en- the rear Of any Bulgarian forces in
vading Macedonia, the military position
Of Greece has become vastly more secure
and Bulgaria's inclination TO make a hos
tile move has been virtually eradicated by
the combined pressure of Allied strategy
and diplomacy.
Venizelos, who has the imagination and
courage Of real statesman, foresaw these
developments and sought to get the fullest
possible advantage for Greece out Of them.
He did not favor hagglng for precise,
black-and-white assurances Of compensa-
ton after the war. He was willing to
trust 20 the future for measurement Of
the value Of Greece's services to the Allied
cause. lie made his choice well in ad-
vance, just as he had done, while the First
Balkan War was still on, in concluding
an alliance with Serbia as a safeguard
against possible Bulgarian threats and
pretensions.
Venizelos was willing TO waive detailed
guarantees because he saw that il Turkey
was 10 be dismembered there would be
ample opportunity TO reclaim for Greece
territory thoroughly Greek by affiliations
of race and language. He was even ready
TO consider ceding some Bulgar portions Of
Macedonia to Bulgaria, in view Of COM
pensations to be obtained in Southern Al
bania, in the Egean Islands and in Asia
Minor.
Greece must fight in order TO establish
a claim on unredeemed Greek soil. The
climax of the struggle Of a century to
throw of the rule Of the Ottoman OPP
preston is now approaching, and in he
mind Of the great Cretan leader it was
better for Greece TO risk greatly in a great
cause than TO count too narrowly the costs
Of war and the rewards which she might
....o.t from the larger nowers in the final