Eleutherios & Railways

Eleutherios Venizelos, the foxy statesman who upset the Greek Royal House and whose first name means "Liberty," was back in the Cabinet saddle at Athens last week. Proverbially fickle, his countrymen seemed not displeased although only a month ago he described himself to the Greek Parliament as so unpopular that "two editors have actually gone so far as to advocate my murder and appeal for someone to carry it out" (TIME, May 30).

Premier again last week. M. Venizelos was able to inform the Chamber that funds have been obtained at last to tide Greece over her immediate financial crisis. The money was found by transferring to a French syndicate the Greek State Railways, a delicate deal. Skimming over the details as only he can skim, Premier Venizelos spoke of "improved service" to be expected under the French management. Germany, who once dreamed of owning a Berlin-to-Bagdad railway, angrily accused France last week of scheming to buy control of railways dominating the Balkans, called the Greek deal a step toward realizing this French ambition.

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