Evening star., 1923-12-30
RUMANIA'S QUEEN PLAYS
VITAL POLITICAL ROLE
Marie Yet May Take Place as One OF
Europe's Greatest Rulers by
Political Activities.

force the return of King George to
the throne2
Will she. through her political
n.aneuvering, be able to sway Veni-
z.los. the most influential Greek
statesman today. to her cause and.
through him, bring about a restora-
tion Of the monarchy?
Can he be swayed, or will he, capi-
talking his present great oppor-
tunity, assume leadership in the af-
fairs OF Greece and preside over it's
destinies in much the same fashion
as does Admiral Horthy in Hungary?
These are a few of the manifold
questions arising as a result OF the
return to Greece within the next day
or so of the famous wartime premier,
who reaped a great harvest for the
Greek nation in the Paris peace con-
ference only to have it bartered away
by Constantine with his glorious
plan Of restoring the ancient Greek
Byzantine empire. Venizelos today
has greater power than any one
other Greek Individual, the royalty
not excepted. In several instances
his theories have been temporarily
repudiated by the Greeks, but in
times of travail the Greeks invariably
have turned to their one great leader,
their one far-seeing statesman, their
one apostle able to adjust the peril
Gus Grecian political situation in
tune with the desires of the larger
powers upon which Greece today is
so dependent.
Possible stand Of VenixelOs.
Venizelos, in leaving Paris for
Athens, stated emphatically that he
would be neither king nor dictator,
neither. would he consent to head a
Grecian cabinet. He is going home
to clear the atmosphere. and by his
steadying influence bring order out
Of political chaos that Greece may
not sink to even lower levels in the
comfy of nations.
There are indications that Venizelos
may seek to preserve the old mo-.
narchial forms in Greece and uphold
the cause Of King George. But what
he may or may not do Is purely con-
jectural. But one thing is agreed,
upon Venizelos' course depend the
dreams of Queen Marie Of Rumania.
credited with being, the Grecian
statesmen may yet be cog In her
general plans. But both she and
Venizelos, should they cooperate,
will face difficult times, for pro-
republic sentiment is running swiftly
in Greece. A large section of the
Grecian people are soul-weary of see-
ing the nations prestige bartered by
ruling houses, but if Venizelos can
show that the best interests Of Greece
lie In the preservation of monarchial
forms King George may be restored
to his thioqe. But even in this
eventuality the restoration may see
him denuded of all responsible power
and the actual operation of the ma
tion placed in the hands Of the gov
ernment selected through the medium
of the electorate.
Works in Belgrade, Too.
From all indications Queen Marie
today is not resting content with in
direct activities among Grecian
statesmen proper, but her ennis
saries are active in Belgrade, where
the Serbian king has been asked to
lend his influence in pressure
brought upon Athens in the inter-
ests Of the ousted couple.
Previously to the meeting of the
little entente in January there will
be serious conferences between the
emissaries Of the Rumanians, Serbs
CONTINUED on Third PaEe}