Evening star., 1915-12-27
GREECE'S ATTITUDE STILL
PUZZLE TO BOTH SIDES
Her Statesmen Disagree as to Course
in Event of an In
vasion.
NO CHANGE IN PREMIERSHIP
Gounaris. Victor in Recent Election,
Foregoes Office and Majority
Will Support Skou-
loudis.

LONDON. December u, 12:1:
p.m.-Conf1icting reports con-
tinue to reach London from the
scene of the near eastern CAM
paign. Statements from some
sources make it appear the Teu-
tonic allies are preparing steadily
for an offensive movement in
conjunction with the Bulgarians
and Turks.
Other advices. however. are
that the Bulgarians fear to at
tack. less they be caught between
two fires in the strip of territory
from the Saloniki-Doiran to the
Saloniki-Gievgeli railroads.
Probable Greek Attitude.
The central powers are still nego-
tiating with Greece. An interview
with Premier Skouloudis forecasts fail
ure of the efforts to prevent an inva- :
sion of Grecian Macedonia. 1t is inti-
mated that If an invasion is under
taken the Athens government will de-
vote its efforts toward obtaining guar
antees of the evacuation of Greek ter
ritory Immediately following the COM
pletion Of military operations.
King Constantine has telegraphed to
e. M,a% % .sKng sg 5hst !, woua
Turkish troops to cross the Greek
frontier, says the Mails correspondent
at Athens. who had interviews with the
Greek ministers.
Differ IS to Policy.
H. Gounaris. minister Of the interior
candidly confessed, according to the
correspondent, that he did not know
what would be done il the Bulgarians
or Turks attempted to cross the from
tier
Minister of Justice Rhallis. on the
other hand. was just as emphatic in
declaring that no Turk or bulgarian
would be permitted to set foot on
Creek soil. He reproached the allies
for ohstinately remaining at Saloniki
declaring that all of the difficulties OF
Greece would be removed II the allies
evacuated Saloniki.
Two Greek newspapers have pub
llshed statement to the effect that
Rumania has approached the central
powers with a view to obtaining a
guarantee for the eventual evacuation
of Greek Macedonia. as Rumania con-
siders herself interested in it's reten-
tion by Greece. The Greek govern
ment. however. denies the truth of the
report
The correspondent at Athens of the
Exchange Telegraph Company says a
royal decree has been issued disband
Ing two auxiliary classes of troops
Is Not to Be Premier.
BERLIN. December 27. by wireless to
Sayville. n. Y.-M. Gounaris, whose
party won the recent general election
in Greece. has -renounced his claims to
the premiership. the Overseas News
Agency says. An Athens dispatch re-
ceived by the news agency says tina t
~ Gounaris made report to King
Constantine on the outcome of the cleo
tion. and added that as the leader of
the new majority party he was willing
Skouloudis- Owing to political condi- !
tions in Greece. he believed a change
in government to be not only unneces-
sary, but unwise.
II is said the king agreed with this
suggestion.
Views of Greek Statesmen.
PARIS. December 27.-The Athens
correspondent of the Matin sends the
following:
Having interviewed. NJ. VenizeIos on
the subject of the elections and OBJ
tanned from him an affirmation that his
triumph was demonstrated by the small
number of voters polled. / called upon
NJ Gounaris. who denied there was any
considerable number of abstentions and
claimed that even il the 100000 sol :
dfers modified had been able to vote
the result would have been the same
then sought to ask about the foreign
policy of Greece. but N. Gounaris inter-
rupted me. saying:
"Greece's policy isunchaneed. Creece
70 small state. which does not want to
be dragged into the war which might
ihVolSe a catastrophe like those which
nave oeialien Belgium and Serbia. We
are Geeks and nothing else am
neither Germanophile. nor Franceo-
phiie, but Just Greek. Germanophi,es
90 not exist In Greece
Friendly to the Allies.
"Al Greece, even under the present
circumstances. remained attached to
England. France and Russia, to which
she owes her existence and her devel-
opment. But you cannot ask that the
sentiment should go SO far as to lead us
without absolute necessity, into tho
eonfiict and we believe nothing now
requires us to cease our neutrality
Greece always will feel keenly what
ever happens. for better or worse, To
France. but we cannot do more
II then asked NJ Gounsris to explain
how. " the Bulgarians are the heredi i.
tary. enemies of Greece. the Greek peo
people could agree to the allies army
falling back indefinitely be fore the BuI-
ears on Greek territory.
Now you are going into the domain
of the future he replied. .and l cannot
enter into that. am speaking only OF
accomplished facts and the attitude
ihey impose upon u.s. I cannot spea k
Of the future
be considered significant, and NJ. Gou.
1f.onf inaied. mn aecnnd PI1e- -.