The New York herald., 1922-12-14
YENIZELOS TURNING
TO FRANCE FOR AID
Alleged Letter Quotes Him
Saying Britain Is a Liv-
ing Corpse

Special Gable to THE NEW yoHK HERALD.
Copyright, 1929, by THE NEw YosK HEnALD.
SALoNIKA, Dec. 13.--An extract from
a letter purporting TO nave been written
by ex-Premier veniSeles TO the members
OF the revolutionary committee, which
constitutes sensational obstacle to the
revival OF Angio-Greek relations, has
reached THE New YORK HERALD corre-
spondent from an authoritative anti
| revolutionary source. The extract reads /:
Great Britain is only q living corpse.
Consequently Greece must make a de-
cisive step towards an understanding
with France
| A copoy OF the letter fell into the
hands r. L. Lindley, british Minister.
and this together with the execution Of
the Ministers, against which he lodged
his Governments protest, led TO his
departure from Athens.
The letter, genuine or not. is a dipio-
| matte barrier between Greece and Eng
land. and 1t increases the difficaltiess
OF the revolutionary Government In
obtaining credits to purchase grain to
aid the million Greek refugees. Greece's
| efforts to gain financial help of the
Poewrs are received with coidness be-
cause OF the execution OF the Ministers
military dictatorship.
Relations with the British have been
broken off completely since Minister
| Lindley left and the Italians threaten
to sever relations also. The American
Charge d'AnaIres has not resumed dip
lomatic relations with the revolutionary
government With the exception OF the
French all Governments Pre- holding con-
spicuously aloof.
Executions Held Illegal.
! The trial OF the Gounars Ministers Is
popularity held illegal because 1t was
before military tribunal which ignored
the constitutional provision giving the
defendants the right to trial before a
| tribunal elected by Parliament. Many
Greeks insist the executions might have
| lcen avoided, IL venizelos. who has
| great influence with the Government,
had spoken a word to avert them.
With I. Alexanderls. formerly Greek
! Minister to Switzerland, taking charge
CT the foreign office In Athens yester-
day, after hesistating because he op-
posed the recent executions, and with
the revolutionary coioneis mostly de-
parting for the Thracian front and
turning their attention to the reorgani-
zation of the army. the Greek revolu-
| ton Is practically at an end. Col Plas-
t,ras head of the revolutionaries, has
admitted that their job Is done and has
promised an early return to parliament
| ary Government
The counter revolutionary movement
now is headiess because many leading
royalsts either have been finished off
| or have fled the country. Greek politics
probably wfff be stagnant until the cleo
tons, because the people are dead tired
OF political upheavals and tho young op-
position has developed no leaders.
Plans OF the RoyaIists.
! Col. NIetaxas, a leader OF the royalists.
told THE NEW YoRK HERALD correspond
| ent their program consisted In restora-
| ton Of individual freedom. But his rec
! ord as Germanophile adventurer
hardly inspires public confidence. veni-
zeiists and anti-venizeiists divide the
country. but the former cannot produce
venizelos and the latter have no rival
candidate. When elections come the is-
sue will be between the extreme veni-
zelists and the moderates OF all parties.
The aged former President Zainlis. who
Is generally respected, is grouping the
moderates with view to assuring con-
stitutionai government
The Greeks once more arc keenly con-
scious that they are dependent upon the
Allies for their frontiers and security
against the Turks, upon the Powers for
loans and upon America for aid to mill
ions of refugees. The Foreign Office
and the revolutionary leaders are most
anxious TO promise that Greece will not
embark upon any further military ad-
yentures--st least not sN alone-and I'll
express the hope that America will con-
tinue feeding the refugees from Asia
Minor and 1'hrace
A relative Of yenizelos is quoted as
saying the former Premier would return
to Greece II sufficiently urged. But
yenizelos, who has denied any intention
Of coming back. knows that the Greek
people will not willingly submit TO a
dictatorial Government, which any ma
tional achievement demands. venizclos
Is somewhat like an eagle grown up in
| a canarys cage. When he stretched his
wings be smashed the cage. The Greek
canaries have enjoyed the opportunity 70
flap their wings but will not follow the
eagle upon his dizzy heights.