Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-02-23

Italian policy toward ways that seemed
to me more in conformity with our in
tereStS-I denounced the Tittoni-Veni-
zeloS agreement that meant for us
nothing but series of burdens. On
July %, 1920. informed M. Venizelos
OF my decision in note, in which
declared
That, taking advantage of one of the
provisions of the said agreement, Italy
resumed entire liberty of action on all
the points touched upon in this docu-
ment; but that the Italian government
| remained, as before, actuated by a cor
dial desire for agreement on matters of
reciprocal interest; that I trusted that
the Hellenic government entertained the
same disposition toward us. and that I
hoped to make with Greece new, salts
factory and complete agreements.
Nothing was more accurate. Hellenism
constituted vital element in the Near
East, especially at that time when 1t
still owned throughout the whole of
Asia Minor those Furnishing colonies
that victorious Turkey was to destroy
two years later. And was-and am
convinced that a nation teeming with
life like Italy must go hand in hand
with all the life forces in the Mediter-
ranean.
British Acted in Cyprus.
Needless to say that after I had can
| celed the ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS agreement
for Rhodes, the British government did
the same for Cyprus.
But, when the foreign minister Of a
| great power, such as Signor Tittoni goes
so far, at the Paris Conference, as to
consider 1t an important asset to have
Venizelos' support one cannot deny that
this VeniZeloS must have had, in the
eyes of all-from Lloyd George and
Clemenceau to the newcomers begging
for new territory-the sort of legendary
power of charmer, of a siren.
! Wilson himself-intractable WILSON,
had a foible for him. With him Veni-
Zelos showed the virtues of ancient
Greece that Homer attributed to Ulysses.
The history of his first interview with
President Wilson in Paris has, until
now, only been whispered in the smiling
after dinner conversations of the few
who know. After few minutes of gen.
eralities, the American President, think
ing the phrase would be equivalent to a
dismissal and so end the conversation,
told the Greek premier that he might
be sure of his good will toward Hellenic
national aspirations
Il am grateful, Mr.. President" an
swered the Greek statesman; "but what
really matters now is not little Greece
what matters is your great idea of the
League of Nations. To work, in the
measure Of my capacities, toward the
realization Of this great idea is my
deepest desire; consider me, please as a
soldier at your orders for this task"
Greece Never Mentioned.
Probably Wilson would have despised
fiattery from his own countrymen; but
ne was no match for great Oriental
actors. He thought no longer of ending
the conversation, which went on for
more than an hour. Greece was never
mentioned.
But when the modern Ulysses came
back to his headquarters, he said this to
his most faithful friends: Il think we
have got Smyrna"
Unfortunately for Greece, he was
right. AS soon as Orlando and Sonnino
had left the conference after their
stormy discussion with Wilson about
F1ume, Lloyd George, d'accord with the
american President, summoned Veni-
zelos and, under the f1imsy pretext that
the progress of Turkish nationalism in
Asia Minor was causing anxiety. asked
him whether the Greeks could land at
Smyrna within two or three days"
VenlzeloS, disconnected by the short
ness OF the notice he was being given.
graSped. however. that the offer was due
to quarrel with the Italians that he
felt would be momentary, and unhesi-
tatingly answered yes.
I was then in Constantinople as high
commissioner. There we received nv
two colleagues and /, the order to inti-
mate to the Porte that Hellenic land
ing at Smyrna had been decided upon.
II was a positive order that left me