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Our Historical Archive
San Francisco Call Bulletin
January 16, 1919. This article is reprinted below.
Drive Turkey From Europe, Greek War Aim
by Henry Wood
United Press, Staff Correspondent
PARIS, Jan. 16. - If Greece cannot have Constantinople for its own seat of government, it wants the ancient city to be set
aside as the permanent capital of the league of nations.
This developed today during discussion of Premier Venizelos' presentation of Greece's political and territorial aspirations.
Greek delegates pointed out that the establishment of Constantinople as the capital of the league of nations would automatically
result in its internationalization, together with the Dardanelles. It was further suggested that the immediate hinterland on
both sides of the strait should be placed under the control of the league. Thus the freedom of the Dardanelles and the elimination
of the Turk from Europe - two important problems of the peace settlement - would be settled simultaneously.
GREEK UNIFICATION
Venizelos, who is the most remarkable statesman the Near East ever produced seeks not only complete unification of the Greek people,
but permanent settlement of all Balkan and Near Eastern problems in the memorandum he has submitted to the peace congress. His claim
to Greece's own right to Constantinople is based on historic and economic grounds. The city was the Greek capital for centuries. It's
present population includes 300,000 Greeks, and there are thirty-seven Greek schools with 30,000 Greek scholars.
The Greek premier, in his memorandum, takes up four regions which he desires to incorporate into modern Greece - North Epirus, Thrace,
Constantinople and the Asia Minor littoral.
THRACE TO GREECE
Venizelos would divide North Epirus between Greece and Albania. He would have the Greco-Bulgarian border follow the Ardar and Maritza
rivers, thus cutting off Bulgaria from the Aegean Sea, giving Greece a great portion of Ancient Thrace. Armenia, he suggests, should be
a seperate state, but the villayets of Abrusa, Aldin, Sanjaks and Iamid, with the adjacent islands, should be annexed to Greece.
The city of Brusa, however, he would turn over to the new Turkish government, together with its Marmoran port.
The settlement would still leave more than 100,000 Greeks in Turkish Armenia, but Venizelos today suggested a reciprocal emigration, these
Greeks moving into Aldin and Brusa, while the Turks within the Greek provinces move into Turkish territory.
LAND PROMISED
Venizelos reminds the peace delegates that the entente promised Greece important territorial concessions in Asia Minor for her military
intervention, which the allies later turned down when Venizelos was in a position to offer it. The premier's memorandum is said to be a
great moderation of the original concessions.
WILSON SEES GREEKS
Paris, Jan 16. - (By Associated Press). President Wilson received Premier Venizelos and Lambros A. Coromilas, Greek minister to Italy, today.
The Greek premier presented arguments in support of Hellenic claims in the war settlement.
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