Evening star., 1915-10-22
GREECE MAY SPURN
NEW ALLIED OFFERS
England Proffer of Island of
Cyprus Censured by Brit
ish Papers.
PLAINLY CALLED BRlBE
+. FOR ATHENS SUPPORT
Adequate Financial Support Also
Pledged, Is Claim-Berlin Sees
Plan of Coercion.

Plan of Coercion.
LONDON. October 22-Great Britain's
reported offer to cede the Island of Cy-
prus to Greece to induce the latter
country to join the entente allies is op-
posed by the Morning Post. which edi-
torially characterizes the offer as bad
diplomacy. Other newspapers also
have lifted their voices against such
action. such an offer being termed moth
ing more nor less than bribe.
From information available in Rome
today it appears that the Greek gov
ernment is likely to reply to the repre-
sentations just made by the allies that
armed neutrality.
Transaction Not Liked.
fertile soil, peaceful population.
satisfactory revenue and fourishing
trade" says the Post in commenting on
the situation. Now we propose to give
it away in order to bribe Greece to full
fill her plain obligations. We do not
like the transaction. 1t is a bad prece-
dent and might well encourage other
countries to ask a price for their neu-
trality or support. When the British
empire is reduced to selling part of it
self for the military support of Greece
things might be considered as in a bad
way. -.---.-..-.-
"Our strength in the Balkans seems to
have been in nerveless, incompetent
hands. Meanwhile Serbia struggles
desperately against great odds, and
the chances of saving her grow more
remote. The desperate position in the
Balkans is not the result of mere mis-
takes, but of inability to stand by our
friends or to stand up to our. enemies.
There is field here for courageous
strategy and able diplomacy, but IL
strategy takes the form of driblets
and diplomacy the shape of gifts. our
natural advantages and superior re-
sources will not suffice"
Objects to Useless bribes.
The Evening Standard says:
We object to bribes, especially use
less brides. and upquestionably the Of
fer of Cyprus is bribe. The only
thing which distinguishes it from Ger
man bribes is that Germany offers
other peoples territory and We our
own"
The offer of Cyprus to Greece was
made last Sunday, according to the
Times, and is partial revelation of the
proposals which had been under con-
sideration for some time.
Greece, says the Times, was clearly
informed by the British note that full
fiIlment of her treaty obligations to
Serbia would entail the cession of
Cyprus without prejudice to any other
eventual advantage which the allies
might share with Greece. 1t is under
stood that the Greek government has
already been assured OF large military
and adequate financial support from the
allies and had been given to understand
that the condition of the guarantee of
Greek possessions for term of years,
recently mentioned by Eleutherios
Venizelos, the former premier, in the
Greek chamber, would be fulfilled.
Paris Welcomes Offer.
PARIS; October 22.-The Paris news
papers welcome Great Britain's report
ed offer to cede Cyprus to Greece. as
sign that the entente diplomacy has
entered the domain of reality. Some
of the papers express the opinion that
the proposal to make gifts of Epirus,
Smyrna and other territory is like dis
posing of the bears skin before the
animal is killed. but adds that Cyprus
belongs to England, and is a gift worth
having, being the finest island in the
archipelago after Crete and having
large population.
Nevertheless most of the writer's ex-
press strong doubts as to the success
of Great Britain's move.
A prolonged meeting OF the Greek
cabinet late Tuesday night, after which
no communication was issued to the
press, is being generally commented
upon by the Athens newspapers, says
a dispatch filed yesterday at the Greek
capital by a correspondent of the
Hayas News Agency. The message
adds:
TT is reported this "wednesday
evening that new propositions have
been made by the quadruple entente to
induce Greece to depart from her neu-
trality The newspaper Ethnos says
important concessions have been offered
by the entente powers. together with
powerful military support, II Greece
journal Hestia says the entente allies
offers would extend Greece's frontiers
nearly to Constantinople and that the
offers also include the Island of Cyprus
and territory in Asia Minor"
Berlin Sees Coercion.
BERLIN, October 22.-"According to
kilograms received by Berlin newspapers
from London, Great Britain and her al
lies. after their brutal violation Of Greek
neutrality, now contemplate coercive
measures In order TO orag small ana
defenseless Greece into the war against
her will and compel her to side with
those who have violated her independence
and sovereignty says the Overseas
News Agency Apparently a naval
demonstration at Piraeus and blockade
Of the Greek coast are planned IN order
to impose the will of foreigners upon
that feeble state.
'sIIow much the Greeks resent these
attempts to crush their sovereignty Is
apparent from the fact that, according
to many press reports, there are frequent
cases Of friction between Greeks In Sa-
loniki and the troops which are being
landed. Greek officers are not on speak |
ing terms with the Invaders.
New York Students Protested.
NEW YORK. October 22.-Hundreds |