The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1922-11-15

London, Nov. 15-Eliptherios veni- zelos, eX-Premier of Greece, and read of the Greek delegation which will attend the Near East Peace confer ence at Lausanne, discussed today the internal affairs of Greece in the first lengthy interview he has gtvec for several months, and also canvass ed various phases of the Near East situation as it appears to Greek eyes
 'The rule of King Constantine" he said, Shook the Greek monarchy to the roots. but if a 40 per cent min or1ty, we will say, wish to continue the royal institution, I imagine that a majority of the Greeks would con, sent to carry on the present system provided the Kings power be nuIH fled"
 The aged statesman apparently has recovered from the severe moral shock he suffered recently because of the Greek defeat in Asia Minor He seems to be in better health. ant speaks vigorously. At the present time he is totally absorbed in making arrangements for the peace confer ence, and also in caring for a million and a half Greek refugees.
 'I am absolutely divorced forever from Greek internal politics., he con- I will resign imm ediately. If the Greek people want a republic, they probably will show it in the coming elections. for the majority will indi- cate it's will. If the monarchy is of no further use to them, they will be able to signify that fact; and if there is strong minority desiring to con tinue the present regime, no doubt the majority will consent, with the proviso that I have mentioned. As a matter of fact, there is little differ ence between a dem ocratic monarchy where the king Is rendered powerless l fancy England is just as democratic politically, though possibly not soci- ally, as the United States.''
 Asked if he had any comments to make on the passing of Lloyd George or the British Near East policy in it's bearing on the fortunes of Greece, M. Venizelos declined to answer, nor would he comment on the astion of Italy in retal<ing the ten Dodocanese islands, which she once promised to Greece
 that at the approaching peace confer ence he would undertake to support an exchange of the Turk population in Greece for that of the Greek Ma tionals in Turkey. This, he said, was a matter of humanity in which he hoped the League of Nations and the United States would interest them selves.
 without going into the political phases of the matter, I think Greece should not be judged too severely for her campaign in Asia-Minor, as 1t was for the purpose of rescuing
  into eastern Thrace and Asia Minor. It was for this reason that I, as Premier. went there with our armies, therefore, whatever may be said re- garding these campaigns, the un- happy population are not at fault be- cause of governmental action"
 To inquiries regarding the future of Greece, and also the prospects Of her securing loan abroad, Venizelos replied:
 'In several years Greece, with her thrifty commercial population. VIII get on a stable basis if we are to settle the question of refugees and of the minority. At present the refugees are pouring into Greece a million and homes, hence they present a serious menace to internal order, and there may be a huge social catastrophe with a spectre of Bolshevism stalking thr ough our lands.
 ''As to a loan. we would not need one If we could collect our debts from the United States and other allied countries. It isn't generally known but the United States never paid the $34.o00 900 which it agreed to pay in 1917, when with England and France, 1t guaranteed Greece loan of 3o'- 100000 pounds to carry on the war rangement was that this should be a credit upon which we could draw through the National Bank of Greece. On the strength of this credit, we is sued paper currency to provide money for carrying on the great war, and have accounted for every penny whtcf | was spent,
 Then, after paying $14,ooo.000, the | United States stopped payment be- l cause of the return of King Constan- l tine to the throne. When the latter 1 deman nded the additional $34.0o0. 900 i due from the United States. the Wash 1 ington government stated that it never was notified officially of the death of l King Alexander, under whose reign | the credit was extended. Constan- l tine answered this by saying that he ! had never ceased to reign, then the | United States came back and de- | clared the loan was invalid. Neverthe- l less, it is a real debt, in fact. and in honor.