Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1915-04-26
Beauty of Architecture and
High Standards of Culture
ON One Hand and SQuaIid
Poverty on the Other,
CRISIS is NEARING IN
AFFAIRS AT ATHENS
Opportunity to Join in Attack
Against Turkey Presents
Strong Temptation to Peo-
pie of Ancient Kingdom,
nv ROBERT II. MCCORMICK.

ItN AtttOhN4uftns
downright: 1915. BY The Chicago Tribune.)
Athens. March 23--Upon the aero
polis a few ruined buildings contain
an that is most beautiful in architec-
ture and recall that long departed
race which centuries ago set an une-
anoled standard in art and literature.
Around its base lies a new city so
like Paris in appearance, so like an
American city in hustle. As the aero
nolis preserves the best of old Greece,
so does Athens promise a future wor-
thy of the past
Malta, with its thousand church
bells ringing more than the hours of
the day. with its seemingly innumer-
able barefoot Migrants, had given an
idea of east Mediterranean life that
was TO be rudely dispelled on modern
Greece.
City Full of Parasites.
Malta. an island full of parasites,
living from the pocket money Of for
eign sailors and ruled by military
governor. Greece, a nation OF SELF
supporting, self-respecting. and self
governed.
Greek self government, to be sure.
is in some danger now and Greece
herself cannot be sure what the fu-
ture has in store.
Nations far more powerful than
she are in deadly strife and in their
struggle may trample her in the dust
if she be not agile.
To her foreign policy is due her do
mestic crisis.
NJ. Venezelos, the political leader
who brought her so gloriously through
the Turkish and Balkan wars reached
the conclusion some two weeks ago
that the time had come for Greece 10
throw in her lot with the triple en-
tente.
Under the Greek constitution the
king has the sole power TO declare
war. This venezelos urged upon the
king and the king refused to do 80.
Greek Opportunity.
Venezelos' position is clear. Tur-
key, the old oppressor of Greece, is
staggering under the attack of three
great powers. Russia has forced the
Caucasus: England and France are
forcing the Dardanelles.
Here is Greece's chance to Join her
lot with the allies, and in the destruc-
ton of the Turk free some 100000
Greek Christians from Moslem rule,
and, as a reward, receive a large part
of Asia Minor.
The task cannot be hard, because
the Greek general staff were willing,
singe-handed, to attack Turkey last
May
The kings motive is less clear. 1t
may be any one or combination of
influences.
In the first place, his wife is the sis
ter of the kaiser. Her soul is in his
war. OF this there need be and is
no secret. 1t is whispered, however.
that If the king joins the allies even
against the Turks she will return to
Germany.
The Palace Crowd.
To this perfectly human pressure,
which incidentally shows how the
personal relations of rulers affect ma
lions, is added another not so exeus-
able--the palace crowd
The palace crowd consists of the
brothers of the king and their follow
ers, who have not filled a heroic page
in Greeian history.
They are jealous of the popularity,
power and prestige of Venezelos They
are not only opposing his influence
with the king but are said to be IN
triguing against him throughout me
nation
the general staff The staff was for
war against Turkey single-handed last
spring II claimed to be able to beat
Turkey and to beat Bulgaria If Bull
garia in old fashioned Balkan style
joined in 1t was expected that IN
the event of Bulgaria's participation
Rumania and Serbia would help
Greece.
Serbia Fighting for Life.
Serbia Is now fighting for lire
against Austria, Rumania's action UNI
certain, so, the general staff ADDS
If Greece should become involved with
Turkey she might also have to face
Bulgaria unaided by either of her
former allies.
Venezelos has limited his request
for military aid to the navy and a
division to fight at the Dardaneiles.
His opponents reply that war
against Greece would be the signal Tor
a massacre of Greeks in Asia Minor,
that the army would be sent to their
aid and the Bulgarian border left eX-
posed.
The Greek Officers have largely
been educated in Germany. believe
Germany will win and probably hope
so.
Venezelos hopes and believes that
the allies will succeed.
Venezelos refused to fight Turkey
In May and was supported by the
conservative Weather class which
controls Greek politics
They followed him when he came
out for war and rallied to him when
he resigned. Since then there has
been conducted a vigorous anti-war
campaign and public opinion is no
longer one-sided.
Much Depends on Choice.
The future of Greece depends large
~ upon the international relations.
If she displeases the winner, she VIII
have no immediate growth in terri
tory.
Located as she is, she cannot join
Germany. If she joins the allies ana
the allies win she may aspire to
small empire.
Nenezelos believes in policy of ac-
ton. He has with him the prestige
of his two successful wars the am
bition of the nation and the hatred of
the Turks
Against him in civil life will be
those who fear the additional cost of
third war or who fear that it may