The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-04-25
Family of King Constantine Rent Asun.
der by Bitter Dissension-- Crisis
May Prove Fatal To Dynasty


by the Powers Of the Triple Entente
to Greece for the latter's cooperation
in the military and naval operations
now In progress against Turkey In the
Dardanelles. Already before Christ
mas the Powers In question had urged
that Greece should proceed to the as
sistance Of Servia, which was at the
time hard pressed by the Austrian in
vasion. Premier venezelos was anxious
at the time to comply with this re-
quest, but met with insuperable re-
sistance on the part Of his sovereign,
who claimed that Bulgaria would
inevitably take advantage OF the OPP
portunity to wrest the seaport Of
Salonica from Greece. venezelos re-
luctantly gave way.
on January - last venezelos. IN his
capacity ~ Premier. received At
Athens from the British Envoy there.
Sir Francis Elliot. a second invitation,
this time to cooperate with the Powers
Of the Triple Entente in their naval
and military operations against Tur-
key in the Dardanelles. The Powers
assured Greece Of their support In the
event OF her being attacked by Bull
garia and also offered her great ter
ritorial concessions in Asia Minor. 50
as to preclude all danger Of an attack
by Bulgaria venezelos thereupon. with
the consent Of Constantine, embarked
on negotiations with King Ferdinand
at sofia. Offering as the price Of Bull
garias friendly neutrality. a strip Of
territory comprising kavala, along her
northern frontier. less than 1000
square kilometers in extent.
These negotiations proceeded per-
fectly satisfactorily until veneselos.
realizing the efforts being made by the
Queen and by the military encourage
of the King to prevent Greece from
cooperating with the Powers OF the
Triple Entente. demanded that the
matter should he submitted to a coun-
Gil Of the crown. to which the former
Prime Ministers. the chief Of the gem
eral stan. Gen. Dousmanis. and other
OF the leading statesmen Of the crown
were summoned.
1t took place In the presence OF the
King. on March at the royal palace
at Athens. and Venezelos pointed out
that even II Greece surrendered
kavala and 1000 square kilometers OF
territory in Europe TO Bulgaria as the
price Of friendship. withdrawing her
few thousands Of inhabitants thence
and compensating them for the
loss of their property. she would gain
according to the Pledges of the Triple
Entente. some 100000 square kilo-
meters in Asia Minor. the territory in
question situated to the west Of a
line starting south Of Cape Fineka
and terminating at kaz Dagh and the
Gulf of Edremid, inhabited by no less
than million Greeks, now subject
TO Turkish rule. Venezelos added:
III we do not participate In the war.
whatever be the result Of the latter
we shall undoubtedly lose Asia Minor.
If the Triple Entente is victorious its
Powers Will divide between them and
probably with Italy not only Asia
Minor but the remainder Of the Turk
ish Empire. while should Germany
and Turkey emerge victorious the lot
Of the Greeks in the Ottoman Empire
would he worse than ever before. the
chance Of freeing them ended forever.
Asia Minor lost 60 Greece not only
politically but also commercially. while
Greece would remain exposed TO the
Bulgarian peril. without any prospect
OF assistance or support on the part
Of the Triple Entente"
The council of the crown expressed
itself enthusiastically in favor Of the
arguments of Vene2elos. the ex-
Premiers Rail- Theotokis and Zaim!s,
who had been his political rivals and
adversaries being particularly vigor-
In, hat
which he recommended. King Con-
stantine took the matter under ad-
visement and left most OF those
present under the impression that his
consent would follow as a matter OF
course.
But on the following day the King
summoned Venezelos to the palace and
informed him that after due delibera
ton he had determined that II would
be more advantageous for Greece 10
remain neutral. that further negoti ia :
tons with Bulgaria were unnecessary
and that ne had decided to decline the
invitation OF the Triple Entente for
Greece's cooperation IN the attack
upon the Dardanelles and CONSTANT
nople.
venezelos did the only thing pos
sible for him to do under the circum-
stances and resigned the Premiership.
which after having been rejected In
turn by ex-Premiers Theotokis, Rail-
and Zaimis was finally accepted by a
somewhat Insignificant politician OF
the name Of Gounaris. Since then
the King has publicly denied In ar
official dement, that he had ever au.
thorized Nanezelos even TO suggest tc
Bulgaria tho cession OF even the frac.
ton Of a kilometer OF Greek territory
a. the price of her friendly neutralit.
or support.