Sir Basil Zaharoff (His original name seems to have been actually Zacharias Zacharias)

He are some translated exerts from Rochat-Cenise's book "King of arms" published in 1943 Glauser-Oderbolz, Switzerland.

The writer seems to be unaware of Zaharoff's background or is being cowardly or just plain dishonest.

Pg. 58,59

"At the centre of a group of people composed for the most part of important people, the representative of Nordenfeldt (Zaharoff) spoke of the famous submarine, boasting of the invention and hoping that he would see his fatherland in possession of such a machine.

--Nevertheless, someone said, Greece is only a small country and wouldn't the other countries have to have the first of such a weapon?

Zaharoff was silent for a while as if he was thinking of what to say. Finally he made an effort to speak as if he had a lump in his throat:

--See, he said, I am Greek before all!

Excuse me for being emotional, but I am thinking of the martyrdom of my own and of al the Hellenes of Asia minor who have been persecuted by the Turks.

He added after a new silence:

--Certain things are never forgotten!

Several weeks later, the private secretary of Nordenfeldt came, with a delighted expression to report to his boss the latest news brought by the courier.

--There is a letter from Constantinople, he said, here!

Its excellent, Mr Zaharoff has sold two submarines to Turkey.

Nordenfeldt was not surprised."

Next from the chapter on how Greece entered the First World War.

Pg. 139

"Zaharoff didn't hesitate and when the journalist returned to Paris he was carrying a cheque for a million to finance Venizelo's propaganda. It was only the beginning! And from the end of December 1915 the Anti-German campaign was beginning vigorously in Greece.

"

Pg.141

"The propaganda for Venezelo's side redoubled and close to 200 people were in Zaharoff's pay as agitators.

The Royalists, moreover, were defending themselves. Blood ran on the 1st of December 1917 and 23 French sailors were massacred .On the same day the hotel "Great Britain" was machine-gunned. Lampsas, it's owner, the brave man ho hospitality had in other times been so precious to Zaharoff sheltered under his roof too many French and English foreigners who were enemies of Constantine.

June arrived! A secret counsel of war condemned to death four journalists; Albert Londres of the Petit Journal; Edouard Helsey of the Journal; G.J.Stevens of the Daily Telegraph, and J.M.Jeffries of the daily Mail. The sudden end of the situation saved the lives of these brave war correspondents and I want to quote on this subject, several striking lines of one of them, the dear and great Albert Londres:

"For six months the honour of France has been dragged through the dirt in Greece, its recovery is coming."

"Athens was uneasy, the city felt things drawing to a close. The country was strangled by hatred and famine and could not breathe anymore. A hanged man when he has arrived at his last living breath with his own hands to get some air starts to tear at his throat. He must be cut down or die. Mr Jonnart arrived and took him down."

The king abdicated on the 11th of June at 2 o'clock. Permit me to quote again the ever-marvellous witness Albert Londres:

Pg.142

The monarch had to leave Greece on the 12th at midday.

"

During two more days, at the entrance to the capital, in his castle Taloie, he reminisced over his memories of childhood, manhood and as sovereign. A third ultimatum, respectful but insistent woke him from his last dream on the morning of the 15th of June.50 kilometres from Athens in one of the most magnificent attic countrysides at Oropos, a small dream of a bay, Constantine XII, at 11.30 sound in body but shaken in spirit embarked.

"

From then on Venizelos took control. Zaharoff's millions had rendered a very real and a very great service to the Allied cause. Greece had entered the war!

There was in France then a man who did not at all like Basil Zaharoff. That man was Clemenceau who, from his arrival as the head of government had proceeded with a serious enquiry on the intrigues of certain agents of Zaharoff who had supplied fuel to German submarines in the Mediterranean.