The New York herald., 1920-01-04


turning to Greece in 1910. he s0as elcctcd
10 ,he Chamber ot DepUties. Tht fac. :
that he IS q cosnopoliton aud O. necJ Df
political experience invests his account Of
his ,ntervieU NTH the Greet, I''eDt.ar and
his comments on the policies o. ri. Vent
@e'os ao'th q peculiar significance.
By P. E. DRAKoULIs.
Written Exclusively for the New York
Herald.
PARIS, December 1S.--In my interviews
with Mr.. VeniZelos before he left Greece
he made plain his conviction that Symna
will remain Greek and that the Dodeca-
lnessos will soon form part OF the Hellenic
state. In fact. the Prime Minister IS
sanguine about all national questions ard
he believes. in regard TO Thrace. that II,
too. will soon be incorporated in Greece.
According TO Mr.. Venizelos the iinpa-
thence in Greece is not justified. consid-
lering the already great achievement OF
pushing Bulgaria away from the Aegean
Sea. suggested to him that the discon-
tent Of the Greek people because of their
material suffering is so great that no
satisfaction of national aspiration Is suf-
lficent to serve as substitute for the de-
sired change in social and political condi-
tions. But Mr.. Venizelos objected that
the number of such nalcontents in Greece
is comparatively small. and he remarked
You know. Mr.. Drakoulis. that ] have
gone very long way toward SATISFYING
the labor world. The working class cc
Greco has obtained all they asked-ths
eight hour law, the rural reform. &c"
LobOs awakening.
| On my suggestion that much more thar
that was necessary to satisfy the nascert
spirit of labor consciousness. Mr.. Ven'zelcs
lreplied Tell me what the WORKING
classes want and I will try to get it FOR
them. You know that not a So
tcialist but as a Liberal I went very near
a Socialist programme" To which de-
INJURED that while the working classes Of
Greece would gladly accept all that the
Liberal government would grant them they
would not be willing 10 accept such con-
lcessions. no matter how far rea ching. In
lieu OF fundamental change Of present
conditions, and I reminded him that there y
was n temper in the heart of the Greekf
people bordering on Boshevisn and ths
INSCRIPTIONS advisers were ready to tak,y
advantage of this.
In reply TO his question as to what the
Greeks want 1 tod him that they wanted
enlightened and progressive eTna ncipat ton
/ from plutocratic tyranny. Especially u
an influence needed 20 keep The work
! ers from falling into the hands Of self
seeking rnCleaders. pseudo socialists who
pretend to be their advocates. And I sug
gested that some new authority. some
independent institution. some power com
petent TO deal with labor matters ought
! TO be created without delay, in order thai
the Premier mght be relieved OF some or
his responsibilities and burdens.
! To which Mr. Venizelos repied:-"I
realize that such enlightenment is needed
and Erevna is truly an enlirhtening In
fluence. but 1t seems TO me that YOU sug-
gcst measures that SAVIOR OF revolution.
You must remember that the class strug
! gle. much as I recognize its reality. must
not be allowed to be manifested in Greco.
until the national problem is solved
| I agreed that there is no further need
for the manifestation Of the class strug-
gle in Greece. as IL has already been
manifested there. as in every otner coun-
I try. but although the national problem
should have preference over social ques-
! tions there are certain things that mus.
be rnended promptly-for instance. tn
martial law and the censorship should be
removed as soon as the Bulgarian treat
is signed
Awaiting Turkish Treaty.
But what about the Turkish treatyr'
| he retorted These unpleasant but un-
avoidable restrictions must continue until
after the solution OF the Turkish ques-
ton"
| / suggested that the solution OF this
question might be a long way Off but Mr.
Nenizelos replied that he had not created
the conditions that might lead to this de
lay. and that on tho whole he considered
the condition OF the working class m
Greece as being already very good Upon
which I dcmurred that there is larr,
class i'm Greece other than the workers.
so called which Is far from being well off
For example now functionarios receive
large salaries. but what about families
" hich are denendent upon pensions? An1
I told the Premier that during my reccnt
residence In Greece ] had encountered
thousands Of families who are starviny
on 500 drachnas a month, let alone those
with lesser incomes.
unfortunately that IS true" agreed Mr.
Venizelos, but when you speak of tn
high cost OF living and the proftcerng in
Greece I can assure you that il is worse
hero I'm France in that respect"
! But could not agree with him on this
point. for. in my opinion. living IN Greece
is far dearcr than in France and profteer-
| ing there is unparalleled. and could not
refrain from warning the Premier thai
tho discomfort in Greece Is so great that
ne will find himself facing storm on his
arrival Seeing him so deeply engaged r.
the solution OF momentous problems.
could not help expressing my wonderment
and admiration az / took my leave, say
ing
Perhaps your usual magic will still the
storm, but you will find storm
"As 10 tho storm. I believe you. Mr..
lDraknoulis. but tho Crock people still low
me. and this will be shown at the cleo
tions, which. however. will not take place
until after the solution OF the Turkish
question"
My Impressions gained from this inter
view are that after tho settlement of the
tCcntinues es rsse Two. Col Ttree.,