The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1924-03-29


custody.
Of Venizelos. the --anti-VeniZeloist
Greeks may conjecture by studying
the fate of Bulgaria. The population
of Macedonia was so mixed that it
would be no outrage on any ethical
principles to all cate the whole Of it
either to Serbia, to Bulgaria or to
Greece. Constantine's folly might,
therefore. at the end of the war. have
deprived Greece Of all she had won in
Macedonia as the fruit Of her victories
in the Balkan war.
Venizelos stepped in and. by one
Of the most dramatic acts OF the war,
saved Greece from the consequences
of her kings blunder. So that, when
great victory was achieved Greece
found herself in spite OF her king, in
a position to claim from the victors
favorable treatment for her claims.
This she received, thanks entirely to
the wisdom and foresight OF Venizelos.
Greeks RepeI Turks
The time has not come for telling
the whole story Of the Greek region
region in southeastern Asia Minor. IL
is enough, for present purposes, to re-
call the fact that, during Constantine's
exile and the premiership OF Venizelos.
that area was held by the Greek army
with perfect ease against all attempts
Of Mustapha Renal.
The Greeks won shattering victories
and suffered not a single reverse.
Venizelos was satisfied that no effort
on the part of the king could dis
lodge the Greeks. The excellent re-
lations that prevailed under the Ven
izeloist regime between Greece and
her great allies made II possible to
finance and keep up the equipment
Of the Greek army.
The eminent Greek statesman had
@on the confidence. not merely OF
ministers in other lands but also Of
military chiefs. He never misled them
as to the means at his disposal-whaJ
/ troops he could put in the field and
what they were capable Of accom-
plishing
Had the Greeks stood by the ma
! tional leader providentiaIly sent them
/ for this emergency, the disasters OF
! 1922 would never have ensued. But
/ true 20 their ancient traditions, they
/ threw him over. Constantine re-
turned and then followed muddle and
/ recklessnsss. ending in the subjec-
/ ton Of the wretched Greeks of Asia
/ Minor to arson, outrage and murder.
/ The blackened ruins that face the blue
waters of the Aegean will continue
/ to tell the tale for some years.
Back to Exile
| The stubborn king was once more
driven into exile by an angry nation.
/ But this time the mischief he had
wrought was irreparaDle. The Greek
| colonies of Asia Minor had been lit
e-ally wired out with fire and sword.
/ Eastern Thrace was lost, Venizelos
/ succeeded in saving the remnant, but
/ the great hopes built by Greece on
the victory in the war have been
dashed to the ground. And still the
! peasants Of Peloponnesus were true
( 10 the memory CT that tragic king
and. for this leason alone. republican
ISM for some time hung In the bal
ance.
! VI. Venizelos is being driven for the
| third time from Greece by a combina-
/ ton of perversity. jealousy and in
gratitude The Greeks are divided
INTO a number of wrangling factions,
4 inspired by fierce animosities. How
deadly the hatreds are may be judged
by the execution 81 Gournaris and his
| colleagues.
| I remember, soon after the return
Of Constantine to the throne of
| Greece in 1921, the late NJ. Gounaris,
his principal adviser. came over to
| England to a conference with the
/ Turks. He was a handsome man
with a refined intellectual and very
| pleasing countenance. Il did not give
anything like the impression OF re-
| sourcefulness and power which YOU
/ get from that of Venizelos. But he
was an cid man. He was then smil-
| ing and debonnair.
Time Tells
| A year later, / met him at Cannes
With his foreign minister. NJ Bal
| tisari. NJ Gounaris was a changed
man. The shadow OF coming tragedy
clouded his face. He looked haggard,
| careworn and drawn. He had a
hunted appearance. He looked like
man who foresaw disaster and could
| see no way Of escape from its claw
NJ. Baltisari's genial countcnance was
also oppressed with anxiety and an.
prehension. Within that year catas-
trophe came. Gounaris and Baltisari
were shot side by side as traitors.
| Gounaris had been dragged from q
sick bed to the place of execution,
propped up against the wall and rid
died with bullets. Greece is not a
healthy country these days for de-
/ feated politicians. Venizelos, very
wisely, quit its turbulent shores when
popular support was withdrawn and
awaits the inevitable reaction in his
favor in a softer climate. Even thus.
/ he narrowly escaped assassination st
the hands Of his infuriated Greek ad-
versaries at a Paris railway station.
Now a Republic
| And now Greece-is a republic
/ fear it will not be an end to her
troubles. But the Greeks are a hard
working intelligent and courageous
people and. if they only had the Gift
CT fidelity to a great leader. they
would be great people. Established
/ demccracies can afford to quarrel
I'll 81 l.