Constantine-Benaji Agreement

After the National Defence rebellion, while the temporary government was stabilizing its political position in Macedonia and the Aegean islands in Athens, the allies thought they could reach an agreement with King Constantine, who was willing to withdraw a part of his forces that were gathered in Thessalia. He would only leave there a small force to make sure the farmers wouldn't rise up against the landowners after the troops had gone away. In return he asked the reassurance from the allies that they would stop pressurizing him and that they would not use the forces of National Defence against the old Greece. Everybody was amazed when King Constantine proposed to the French envoy Paul Benaje not only to withdraw all the Greek troops from Thessalia, but to hand over large amounts of military and naval material. In return the French government would respect his neutral position and prevent the temporary government of Thessaloniki from expanding to regions which were under the control of the government of Athens. Briand believed that a reconciliation between Eleftherios Venizelos and King Constantine was still possible.

The conciliatory climate, which was a result of the agreements between Constantine-Benaje, did not last for long. There were two main reasons that ruined any hope for reconciliation. First, movements in the north were giving the impression that Eleftherios Venizelos was making plans from the south and second the reaction which was aroused against the disarmament from the environment of Konstantinos and the pressure from the side of the military of Athens, convinced King Constantine to abandon the agreements with Benaje. The decision of Venizelos to march against Katerini, with the approval of Sarrail, during the first days of November, surely strengthened those in Athens who were opposed to the additional assignments to the allies. The invasion of the National Defence army to Katerini was regarded as the first move towards the occupation of regions that were under the control of Constantine. By November, a movement was created under the control of Metaxas and Dousmanis, against the disarmament and the handing over of military material.

Panopoulou Eufrosini

5th Lyceum of New Smyrna, Athens