New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-08-31
WHY GREECE STANDS ALOOF
Though Friendly War Began She Has Reason
Fearfor Her Future

lasted eight years. s21-'29, and which swoke
the admiration and sympathy not only OF
the whole Of Europe but also Of the United
States Peace, order and security Of life
and property reign in new Greece thHs5
three years without distinction of race or
religion, for the Greek programme follows
always justice and civilization. We hear
no more of crimes, rapine, lootings, feroci-
ties, etc, in Macedonia by the patriotic"
komitatlis, such as had been taking place
for long period. The incendiaries Of the
Greek townships of Nigrita and DOxato APP
pear no more, for these taste Greek admin
stration of equality and security Of life.
The Hamitic and Young Turk rule has been
completely effaced out of the redeemed Greek
Macedonia.
And now Of we are to believe the
every day dispatches from Europe Greece
is called by coercion to cede purely Greek
townships to a barbarous rule. Let me repeat
Greek townships" because they kept their
traditions before the Bulgarians came TO
Europe and up till to-day remain faithful to
their ancestors. We Greeks showed our
friendship to the Allies since the war be-
gan; our islands are used as the naval base
of the combined Anglo-French fleets, we are
very thankful for their offerings Of they
VIM in Asia Minor, but We don't care
for Smyrna, nor even if they offer US Con-
stantin pie, if we are to cede Kavala and its
environs to the Tartar Bulgar and leave
Salonica in great danger.
The experience of the past taught US the
instincts of the Bulgarians. Greece owes
much gratitude to France since her indie
pendence, and Victor Hugo's friendly verses
are and will always remain immortal in
Greek history. Though Great Britain
showed less sympathy at the end of the last
century and at the beginning Of The present,
Directing to the annexation of Crete, besides
Cyprus, though promised dozen times, yet
her sons Gladstone, who offered US the
seven Ion!an islands fifty years ago, and the
gentle soul of Lord Byron, who gave up his
last breath in Greece in 1924 for the
Greek freedom, and whose patriotic songs |
was glad to read in last Sundays Tribune
will always be sealed in the hearts of every
Greek. Therefore, we Greeks must remain
grateful toward the United Kingdom
Moreover, two among the Allies, Italy and
Russia. have shown their dissatisfaction
openly toward Greece. The former intends to
hold the Greek Egean Islands forever, and
besides, while raising the standard Of
liberty for the Italia rredenta" (unre-
deemed italy, against Austria, she placed
her foot on Albania and at the same time
objected to the desire of the Greek deputies
of North Epirus TO sit in the Greek Parlia-
ment, without mentioning her imperialistic
dispositions toward Greek-inhabited shores
of Asia Minor. Russia claims COnstantinople
down to the Egean Sea, thus depriving
Greece of every hope for her liberated pro-
gramme toward Asia and Thrace. We Greeks
are very proud of our Premi T, Venizelos,
but at the same time we cannot find fault
with King Constantines attitude in declining
to help the Allies for the Dardanelles ex-
petition, first owing to the treachery of the
Bulgarians, and secondly because of the two
unfriendly powers mentioned.
The assumption that Queen Sophie's in
fuence kept Greece neutral is absolutely
groundless. | am able to state that King
Constantine is not influenced by any royal
or imperial family of Europe when the
very vital interests o. his beloved Greece
are in danger; he is the man who fought
bravey and shared the hardships of his
army during his last victorious campaigns
for nearly one year, and presented freedom
to more than 100000 Greeks, and when the
time comes he again, with the help of his
people, will complete what remained undone
But one may we'll ask, When will that
time come? Better hurry up before it is
too late. And | answer that the Grecian
King would rather lose his crown and throne
than see even a village of his rising nation
Under the threatening nightmare of Bulgai
Macedonia!
ARISTOTLE NJ. MACHELAS.
West End (LoEg Brsnch), Aug 20, 1915.