Life of Venizelos, with a Letter from His Excellency M. Venizelos
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:CO LIFE OF VENIZELOS Photo by Lafayette. WO New Bond Si \\ HIS EXCELLENCY M VENIZELOS. HGrv C LIFE OF VENIZELOS BY S. B. CHESTER (CHESTER OF WETHERSFIELD AND BLABY) WITH A LETTER FROM His Excellency M. VENIZELOS LATE PRESIDENT OF THE HELLENIC COUNCIL f LONDON i CONSTABLE AND COMPANY LTD. 1921 TO MY WIFE [WINIFRED CHESTER] Villa Jaiz-que-Bel, St. Jean de Luz, Basses Pyrenees, March ioth, 1921. Dear Mr. Chester, I received some time ago the manuscript ofyour Book which you were so good as to send me. So far, I have declined to read manuscripts of books sent to ?ne and dealing with myself and I could not make an exception in your case. I must, however, admit that I have read that part of your Book which deals with the Cretan Question, and it will only be doing you justice by stating that you have managed in a very commendable way to bring order out of a chaos of events, the access to which could only be arrived at by a thorough and laborious search of documentary evidence. You can compliment yourself, indeed, on having managed to avoid—except in very rare instances—the unavoidable errors to which a writer in a work of this nature is bound to fall. In this you merit not only my congratulations, but the grateful recognition of the student of History interested in the evolution of the Cretan Question. Believe me, dear Mr. Chester, Yours faithfully, E. K. VENISELO. PREFACE It would have been impossible for this book to have been written without the intervention of His Excellency M. Caclamanos. From the first day we discussed the question of a Venizelos biography in the summer of 191 8 until the present moment he has never withheld his advice. Mr. John Mavrogordato, M.A. Oxon., to whom I am greatly indebted, has always been most helpful. I am under the deepest obligations to Mr. Nicholas Eumorfopoulos, whose suggestions have benefited the manu- script and whose guidance has been very real. Indeed, Mr. Eumorfopoulos has cleared up numberless questions for me over a course of years. I have also had the inestimable advantage of visiting the library and appealing to the unrivalled diplomatic experience of His Excellency M. Gennadius, G.C.V.O. During a period of six years I have received many important lessons in Greek politics from members or repre- sentatives of the late Government. M. Venizelos himself found time, even at the height of his great activities, to enlighten me upon various matters connected with his life and work. My appreciation extends to his permanent secretary, Mr. K. P. Tsolainos, whose assistance has been of incalculable value to me. S. B. C. Brittany, 1921. Vll CONTENTS BOOK I CRETE BEFORE AND DURING THE RISE OF VENIZELOS CHAPTER I PAGE Birth of Venizelos—Origin of his name and family— His education—The impression he gave M. Clemenceau in 1899— President Wilson, King Constantine, Prince Lichnowsky, and Baron Wangenheim on Venizelos — of rule Crete during the last years Turkish ..... 3 CHAPTER II Strained relations between Cretan Mussulmans and Christians —Feeling in Greece—Concern of British officials—Despatch of British war vessels to the island—French, Russian, and Italian ships in Cretan waters . 10 CHAPTER III Martial law declared by Turkish Governor of Crete—Venizelos leaves the island for Athens— Marriage of the Crown Prince Constantine of Greece with Princess Sophia of Prussia— Lawlessness in Crete—Appointment of a Christian Turkish Governor—Work of the British Consul-General to relieve tension . ... 15 CHAPTER IV Encounters between Christians and Turks— Street fighting in Canea— German Government considers that Greece is to blame — Lord Salisbury holds a different opinion— Another Turkish Governor arrives in Crete —French Ambassador at Constantinople makes a series of recom- mendations on the Cretan question— Berovich Pasha, a Christian, appointed Governor by the Porte—He makes promises to the Cretans —M. Venizelos and M. Caclamanos ...... 22 ix LIFE OF VENIZELOS CHAPTER V PAGE Troubles of Crete increase —Christians are joined by sympathisers from Greece—Formation of an Insurrectionary Assembly—An agreement is reached between the Great Powers and Turkey concerning Crete— Venizelos and the outbreak of the insurrection of 1897 CHAPTER VI Venizelos takes command of a group of Insurgents—Colonel Vassos sent by Greece to occupy Crete—European Admirals observe events— —Venizelos They bombard position occupied by Venizelos and his men becomes the spokesman of the Insurgents • • • • • 37 CHAPTER VII Cretans discuss autonomy, but demand annexation (by Greece)— British Admiral regards Vassos as at war with Great Powers— Situation com- inter- plicated by conflicting elements : European naval and military vention among Christians, Mussulmans, and Turks — Greece and Turkey go to war—The war lasts one month ..... 42 CHAPTER VIII Cretans continue in state of insurrection after Greco-Turkish armistice— Venizelos is elected President of the Insurrectionary Assembly—He arouses antagonism and loses office ...... 5° CHAPTER IX A new Cretan Assembly is instituted — Russia proposes that Prince George of Greece shall become High Commissioner of the Powers in Crete— Germany and Austria dissent—The German Emperor withdraws from the European Concert on the Cretan question— Austria ceases also to take an active interest in maintaining order in Crete—The Admirals representing Great Britain, France, Russia, and Italy assume charge of Crete and arrange for the establishment of a provisional administra- tion — Venizelos is appointed a member of the Cretan Executive Committee — An outbreak of Mussulmans at Candia leads to the massacre of Christians, the murder of the British Vice-Consul and the in killing of British troops —As a result, the Admirals turn definitely favour of the Cretan Christians and demand the withdrawal of the Turks from the island ......... CONTENTS xi CHAPTER X PAGE Punishment of Moslem ringleaders by order of British authorities— Ex- pulsion of Turks from Crete— Prince George of Greece appointed High Commissioner ......... 67 CHAPTER XI Arrival of Prince George at Canea—Venizelos appointed Councillor for Justice—Prince George's overbearing attitude towards local leaders— Friendly relations between Venizelos and the Consuls ... 72 CHAPTER XII Venizelos and Prince George—Unsuitability of Prince George for the work in Crete—His disagreements with Venizelos—Venizelos dismissed from office — Prince George's European tours—The Turks sell out their remaining rights . ... ... 78 CHAPTER XIII Venizelos adopts policy of Union with Greece— Prince George goes on an electioneering tour—Conviction of Professor Jannaris for libelling the — . Prince The Venizelists demonstrate in favour of Union . .85 CHAPTER XIV Lord Lansdowne on the Cretan question—Venizelos sends emissaries to the King of Greece—Venizelos starts the Therisso revolution ... 93 CHAPTER XV Prince George and the Powers— His attack upon Venizelos and the Consuls 102 CHAPTER XVI Meeting between Consuls and Venizelos— Fighting between Russians and Insurgents— Reforms originally proposed by Venizelos now voted by Cretan Chamber—Venizelos agrees to end the insurrection—An amnesty proclaimed in Crete . .Ill CHAPTER XVII Great Powers propose reform measures— Prince George is superseded by M. Zaimis . .118 xii LIFE OF VENIZELOS CHAPTER XVIII PAGE Cretan situation is cleared up preparatory to withdrawal of European forces —Venizelos appointed member of Cretan Executive Committee — Political crisis in Athens — Powers evacuate Crete—Greek Military League demands expulsion of Crown Prince Constantine and his brothers from the army— Military rising in Athens— Naval mutiny— Military League appeals to Venizelos to come to Greece—He agrees and becomes mediator in national affairs— His work is successful, a new Cabinet is appointed, and a National Assembly convoked— Venizelos is elected to the National Assembly— He resigns Presidency of the . Cretan Executive Committee . .123 BOOK II VENIZELOS AS THE MAKER OF MODERN GREECE CHAPTER I A delegation of Greek politicians fetches Venizelos from Crete—Athenians discuss whether the National Assembly shall create a new Constitution or revise the existing one — Venizelos supports a Revisionary, as opposed to a Constituent Assembly— He makes a great speech and wins the people over to his opinion—He forms a Cabinet—His first appearance in the Assembly as head of the Hellenic Government— Difficulties in obtaining a vote of confidence lead him to tender his resignation, which the King refuses to accept—The Revisionary Assembly is dissolved and arrangements are made for the election of a new Legislature —Venizelos triumphs at the elections—The constitu- tional are . reforms carried out . .137 CHAPTER II Venizelos and the formation of the Balkan League—He restores the Crown Prince to the army and reorganises the Greek naval and military forces — The Serbo- Bulgarian, the Greco -Bulgarian and the Serbo- Montenegrin Treaties are signed— Venizelos has difficulties with Cretan —deputies, because of their premature efforts to enter the Greek Chamber He prorogues Parliament to evade complications—Balkan feeling rises against the Turks—Turkey mobilises— Montenegro declares war on Turkey—Venizelos hopes for peace but prepares for war—The Allies demand the autonomy of the European vilayets—Greece issues CONTENTS xiii PAGE an ultimatum—Venizelos proclaims Crete annexed by Greece—He invites Cretan deputies to Greek Chamber—Turkey declares war on Bulgaria and Serbia —Serbia, Bulgaria and Greece declare war on Turkey ........ ... 145 CHAPTER III The influence