Evening star., 1924-01-03

Eleutherios Venizelos dominates the
Balkans today. On his course of ac-
tion, now that he has returned to
Athens, much depends. He may assist
in the restoration of King George to
it will be only in return for some
real concessions for his beloved
Greece, editors believe. Should he
insist on the effort being carried
through to establish a stable repub-
lie the outcome is hard to foresee.
with the little entente dominated, as
at present, by Queen Marie of Ru-
mania, King Georges mother-in-Iaw.
whose plans to make the rule of the
Balkan states a family affair has got
ten all concerned into a serious
tangle.
What venizeios can accomplish is
Europe today. The deportation of the
king and queen caused very little of
stir. Its effect will show when the
| little entente meets the middle of the
current month. BY that time the new
program will be complete ALI hands
but it would require only very small
spark to explode the powder maga-
zine of the Balkan states.
Venizelos "favors constitutional
World thinks But demand for a
republic grows stronger in Greece,
and the ablest of Greek statesmen
| may accept a republic as the best
hope (of his. country If Greece is to
have president Sir Basil zarahoff is
mentioned as first choice. Sir Basil is
Europe's man of mystery, power
and i-millions. More cash, fewer
ructions. Not a bad prescription for
| the Balkans" 1t should be empha-
sized in this connection, the Danville
Register feels, that the mighty
stirring of democracy since it was
preached during the war period and
! the popularity Of the Wilsonian doc
trine of the self-determination OF peo-
pies have wrought fundamental and
| revolutionary changes in almost all
Of the governments of Europe"
\ X X X
The Cleveland Plain Dealer, how
ever. feels "the attitude of venizelos
| toward King George will probably
be the same as that toward Constan-
tine. If he believes the young king
, can help and is willing to help in
| the work of reconstruction, he will
doubtless prevail upon the cabinet
to invite George back to the throne.
1
4 activity Venizelos is but f1fty-nine.
1t is scarcely to be supposed that
| three years Of reflection at Paris
has materially affected his viewpoint.
! His return to Athens may well por-
tend developments no less significant
for future Greek and European his
tory than was his call from Crete
thirteen years ago"
| "The Greeks have been as tickle
as little children in their political
loves" insists the Providence Tribune.
and when Greece cannot hold
Greeks. it's own nationals" the Dur
ham Sun continues, Greece can hold
flew ambitions. Venizelos is not a
gGod, nor is he superhuman. But he
\ appreciated the position Of Greece
as a pawn in the great game of Euro
pean diplomacy, and IL Greece is to
trade International horses Venizelos
is the man to swing her deals. Veni-
zelos and David Harum would have
much much in common f0r sssy TSars TSas
is a question as to whether anything
/ can be done for Greece. But If 1t
can be done Venizelos will very
| nearly do it." It should also be re-
membered. the Roanoke Times points
\ out, that 'Venizelos possesses the
confidence OF the European chancel-
| Ieries to a degree not -eQualed by any
other Greek statesman of the day.
Agreeing that this is SO. the Pitts
burgh Gazette-Tfmes also recalls II
1 will be difficult to iron out" the
internal differences, ~even though
"Greece is sadly in need Of q period
4 of rest from political turmoil. With
| the record Of swift change of public
sentiment that has characterised the
ground for questioning IL even the
loved venizelos can establish har-
mony on political program OF his
own making.
The early reluctance Of venizelos
Ito take a hand in the muddle was
| due. the New Orleans Times -Picayune
i feels. '.to the fact that he knows his
own people and their state OF mind. !.
but that he finally did go back is 9
good thing for Greece, the Duluth
Herald holds, because Greece was was
manifestly in very great need OF Just
such statesmanship as he seems
/ capable of providing"
Some OF the rulers Of democracies
/ are more autocratic than kings" ths
lWichita Beacon holds. but this re-
cant brusouA manh&pdltnG OF KIM