Eleutherios Venizelos, former Greek premier, who at various times avowed and disclaimed anti-Semitism on the part of his political party, died in exile today. He was 71 years old. The power of the Republican leader was broken last March when a revolution attempted by his adherents was quelled.
In September, 1934, he declared in a newspaper article that his party had become anti-Semites because the Jews had opposed it in the elections. Later he was quoted as saying, “I do not wish the Jews to vote for me. I desire only Greek votes.”
In January of the same year, he had expressed regret that there had been “changed relations” between his party and the Jews, and expressed himself ready to intervene personally to bring about a reconciliation.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
