treaties of London and Athens, but also by the unanimous decision of
all the European powers.

The Government declared that it was ready to satisfy Turkey regarding
this question, under the _sine qua_ condition that the islands would
continue to be occupied and administered by Greece in the same way as
all the other provinces of the Hellenic Kingdom. After an exchange of
views on the subject, it was decided that I should meet the Grand
Vizier in Brussels, but the war prevented this.

Afterward, this desire was again expressed, that the negotiations
which originally were to take place in Brussels should open elsewhere.
To this end both parties sent delegates to Bucharest in order to find
some solution of the island question, but again this meeting failed to
accomplish anything.

Turkey proposed an adjournment of the negotiations to a more
propitious time, alleging that the general conditions in Europe, and
her internal troubles, made it impossible for her delegates to
continue the discussions on the island question. Unfortunately the
plight of the Greek populations in Turkey is becoming worse every day,
and large numbers of refugees are coming daily to Greece.

Regarding Bulgaria, I can say nothing, except that she keeps repeating
her intention of remaining neutral. At the same time Bulgaria did not
mobilize, therefore we have not taken this measure ourselves.

But naturally--and this must be taken in its widest meaning--when the
flames of a conflagration are licking one's door one must take all the
precautionary measures. Is it not right?

Regarding Epirus, we declared clearly that we have no designs upon
Avlona.

OCCUPATION OF EPIRUS.

_The subjoined statement by Premier Venizelos appeared in The London
Morning Post._

ATHENS, Oct. 27.

In the Chamber of Deputies this evening, in reply to an
interpellation, M. Venizelos, the Premier, stated that Greece had
reoccupied Northern Epirus solely to restore order and security to
those districts already cruelly tried by prolonged bloodshed and
anarchy. The Premier emphasized the provisional character of this
reoccupation, inasmuch as Greece continued to respect the
international agreements regarding Albania.

M. Venizelos was followed by M. Zographos, the late President of the
Epirote Provisional Government, and now Deputy for Attica, who, amid
profound attention and great enthusiasm, recounted the enormous
sacrifices of blood and treasure by the Epirotes for