Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-10-09
CREEK MONARCH
DEPL0RES Loss
OF HIS SUBJECTS
SAYS EMIGRATION TO UNITED
STATES IS NOT BEST COURSE
FOR HIS PEOPLE.

Athens, Sept. 1o-fCorrespondence
of the Associated Press)-King Con.
stantine today received the Associat-
ed Press correspondent at the
Chateau of Dekeleia, the summer resi-.
dence of the royal family at Tatoi, six
teen miles northeast of Athens.
The king rose at the approach of
the correspondent, who was under the
escort Of Col. Levidis, the royal aide
de camp. There was a warm hand
shake and an invitation to be seated.
Straightway the king plunged into the
subject uppermost In his mind-the
war.
He asked questions which revealed
that he followed, daily, the move
ments of all the armies and followed
with especial interest the campaign
in Russia. He speaks English per-
fectly but with slight lisp.
The talk soon led to consideration
Of the Greeks In the United States.
The king permitted the Associated
Press to print his views on the sub
ject Of Greek emigration.
Emigration an Evil.
The emigration question, he
thought furnished serious prob
lem. "This matter of Greek emigra-
tion to the United States Is one well
worth thinking about" he said, "for
us here in Greece. 1t is a problem
which we must handle for the future
of Greece. And it is one which Greece
must have time and calm In which to
reach a proper solution.
''There are somewhat more than
100000 Greeks in your country" said
his majesty, "but it is in great meas
ure, a temporary population. In the
Balkan wars something like $4,000 re-
turned to Greece to fight in the Greek
armies.
"a great many Of those who re-
turned to America after first trial
and after they had served their coun-
try nobly in the Balkan wars, took
their families with them on the sec
ond trip, as prospective Americans,
almost all of them quitting their moth
er country forever.
81 cannot believe that this has prov
ed an unmixed good for Greece or for
the Greeks who have so left Greece.
Greece is not over populated. There
is plenty Of room here for the popu-
lation to spread and develop the land
for many years without being crowd.
ed"
The king then pointed out that al
though many remained in their adopt
ed country, great many, returned.
and that this had been a source Of
financial loss to them.
Home Conditions Best.
"Just the other day transatlantic
Greek liner he said, brought back
to Greece more than a thousand
Greeks who had embarked in New
York This is happening constantly.
Less than two years after Greek has
emigrated with all his family to es-
tablish himself in the United States,
he comes back again with all his fam
lily to Greece. On account of the war
industrial conditions in the United
States would seem to be inferior to
industrial conditions in Greece. At
home the Greek finds that he is pro-
portionately more prosperous than in
in making the double voyage. He
has lost the cost Of the venture In
actual money and has lost virtually
three years, in this instance, in the
continuity of his employment. In
which time he might well have been
establishing himself on firm foun-
dation in his native country, among
his own people, building up those re-
lations ships which would constitute the
most important element in his capi-
tai"