Page:Collier's New Encyclopedia v. 04.djvu/459

GREECE 395 GREECE political disputes in the island and M. Zaimis, foi-merly Greek Premier, was appointed High Commissioner. Greece, in 1908, following the overthrow of Abdul Hamid, Sultan of Turkey, de- clared for union with Crete. This was not permitted, however, by the Great Powers. A political crisis was narrowly averted over the Cretan question in Greece, where the people disapproved of the failure of the government to insist on the inclusion of Crete into Greek territory. Following the Balkan War in 1912-1913, Crete was finally ceded to Greece. Greece came into political con- flict with Bulgaria and Rumania over the question of Macedonia, and in 1905 diplomatic relations between Greece and Rumania were severed and were not re- sumed until 1912. treaty with Serbia obligated Greece to support the Serbians against any foreign aggression. It was known that Venizelos, the Prime Minister, was in favor of adhering to this treaty when Serbia was attacked by Austria. The King, however, had married a sister of the German Emperor, and his sym- pathies were strongly with Germany. The Greek Government, at the beginning of the war, assumed a neutral attitude. Bulgaria was negotiating with both sides and agreed to throw her fortunes with the Allies if the territory taken from her as a result of the Second Bal- kan War should be returned. Venize- los was willing to consider these terri- torial concessions. The pro-German elements in Greece, however, refused to consider such action. They were fur- THB PARTHENON Largely through the effective diplo- macy of Venizelos, who for many years was practical political ruler of Greece, the Balkan League was formed in 1912 which successfully prosecuted war a2:"inst Turkey. The Greek armies per- foxmed excellent service in the cam- paign of this war, especially in the cap- ture of Saloniki. King George, while on a tour of inspection, was assassinated in Saloniki on March 18, 1913, and was succeeded by the Crown Prince Constan- tine. Greece received, as a result of this war, all of Thessaly, part of Epirus, and the most valuable portions of Macedonia and Thrace, including Saloniki. She re- ceived also Crete, as noted above. These additions to her territory nearly doubled the area and population of Greece. The outbreak of the World War in 1914 placed the government of Gi'eece in an especially difficult position. The ther strengthened by the entrance of Italy into the war on the side of the Entente. For the interests of Italy and Greece clashed in Albania and the is- lands of the JEgean, and the Greeks be- lieved that some promises had been made to Italy which could be fulfilled only at the cost of Greek ambitions. In January, 1915, the islands of Tenedos and Lernnos were occupied as a base of operations against the Dardanelles. This was done with the consent of Venizelos. This brought the issue sharply to a point in Greece. The general staff declined to suppoi-t Venizelos, and the King, through the Royal Council, refused to indorse Venizelos' action. He thereupon resigned and was succeeded by Gou- naras, who was strongly pro-German, In June, 1915, Venizelos received a popular majority to the National Assembly of 120 sea"t.«!, and in August the Guonaras