If I (require 'org) in my .emacs, then open a file.org immediately after emacs starts, then press C-c C-e (publish), I get
byte-code: Symbol's function definition is void: org-defvaralias (no errors appear prior to attempting to publish in the message buffer, and org-mode functionality appears to work) I I don't require 'org at all, but let it autoload upon visiting file.org (or if I require it from the scratch buffer), publishing works. This is with the latest ELPA package installed via package-list-packages on an emacs 24.3.1 (Ubuntu Saucy)