New-York tribune., 1920-11-15
Veniizelos SAYS
Party Has Won
Greek Election
Victory for Premier Means
Constantine's Chance to
Regain Throne Is Lost:
ROyalists Are Routed
Counaris Ready to Flee
Defeat Makes Him an Exile ::
Republic May Be Result {;
Nenizelists Will Dictate

ATHENS, Nov Is (By The Asso-
clated Press) s).-Premier Venizelos an
nounccs that his party obtained a
majority in the elections held through
out Greece to-day.
On the outcome Of the election. was
expected to hinge the question OF
whether former King Constantine shall
come back to the throne again or re-
main in exile in Switzerland.
Demetrios Gounarfs, former Pre-
mler and leader of the Opposition, who
was the opponent of Premier Venize-
los in the balloting, was the candidate
of the eleme-.ts desiring the return Of
Constantine. NJ. Vcnizelos. on the
other hand, is unalterably opposed to
the return of the fallen monarch.
bitter campaign has been waged
by both sides, and no matter which
side carries the elections trouble is
feared. Claims of certain victory were
made by both the VeDizelists and the
Royalists, with indications that NJ.
Nenizelos would poll a big majority in
the new provinces OF Macedonia and
lhrace and the islands, but that old
Greece would witness a fierce struggle.
Gounaris Ready to Flee
Gounaris made preparations for quick
flight in case the elections went against
him. having requested passports to
Italy on Friday last. Exiled during
the war on the charge of high treason.
he was permitted, with the approval Of
NJ. Nenizelos, to return to take part in
the campaign, but should he fail of
election his parliamentary immunity
would expire Immediately.
Premier Venizelos's success means
that he will be given a free hand in the
selection of new head of the state
Prince Paul, who was offered the throne
on the death of the late Hing Alex
ander, has nos yet formally accepted
the governments invitation 20 return
from Switzerland and rule Greece.
The full results Of the election will
not be known until Monday night, as
there is the army vote in Smyrna and
other distant points to be taken into
consideration. 1t is expected that the
soldiers will support Vcnizelos.
Venizelists Confident
Prior to the balloting the Venizelists
declared themselves confident of vic
tory. They claimed the certain return
of 150 deputies, but they need $50 or
more to overwhelm the Royalsts and
demonstrate fully that the country in
dorses the last four years policy.
The Premier's party looks for big
majority in Attica and other parts Of
cid Greece and also in Thcssay and
Grecian isles, such as Crete, and assert
that there will be close vote in Con-
stantine's stronghold, Peloponnesus,
pointing out that after the Prem :er's
s,"coh 1T Pr+ree Gounaris postponed
his trip to Salonica in orde7 to undo
~ Ia4 possible Venizelos's work
there.
Early in the day in summing up the
forecasts brought to him in his mod
est home next door to the American
Legation, the Premier said confidently:
IT, eoue will, show the definite deter
nlinltion Of the people to realize their
destiny and hold their place as a civil
izine factor in the Near East"
The campaign grew more intense as
election day approached. The Opposi-
ton in dozens of newspapers made
numerous charges against the Venizcl-
lists. 1t was alleged that they had dis
.-gaE,.ed shipping and were using all
kinds of craft to bring hundreds of
thousands of refugees from SMYRNA
and Batum to vote. 1t was charged also
that passports were being issued Civ
Continued on pauo three)