Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-10-23
GREECE DECLINES
TO AID ALLIES NOW
Expresses Surprise at Inter-
vention in Its Relations
With Serbia.
GRATEFUL FOR OFFERS
MADE, BY ENGLAND
London Believes Athens Cannot Per.
sist in Her Present Posi-
tion for Long.


government has informed the quad
! ruple entente powers that it docs not
see its way clear at present to ac-
cept the proposals, including cessfon
Of Cyprus and other concessions. Of
fered in return for Greek military CO.
operation with Serbia
While Greeces refusal Of the offers
is definite so far as the present is
concerned, 1t is felt by London COM
mentators that a material strengthen
ing of the entente allied contingent
at Saloniki would have a very mate
rial influence upon the attitude even
Of the Greek government. 1t also 10
believed by observers here that Greece
cannot persist in her present ambigu-
GUS position and that public opinion.
which Is generally understood to favor
the entente allies. probably will exer-
else it's influence.
Explains Greek Attitude.
PARIS. October 23-The Athens cor
respondent Of the Havas Agency sends
the following dispatch under Fridays
date, relative to the attitude Of Greece
| concerning the war:
'All the evening papers publish an
identical note, said to be an exact repre-
sentation of the governments viewpoint
in the situation. The note expresses sur
prise at the Intervention of the powers
in the relations between Greece and
Serbia, the faculty of Interpretation of the
treaty Of alliance Of those countries be-
longing exclusively to the contracting
parties, the accord having been freely
concluded without the Intervention or
guarantee Of a third party.
Greece Released, Is Claim.
at must not be forgotten says the
note. that Greece is an Independent ma
ton that disposes of its fate in full
sovereignty The note goes on to say
that the Austro-German attack on Ser
bia releases Greece at least from the
| obligation of armed Intervention, and
| that independent of that attack 1t is
| materially impossible for Serbia to
give Greece the support of 100000 men
| stipulated in the estreaty in case of war
with Bulgaria, and that the entente
powers have not furnished contingent
| equivalent.
| best qualified consider that the Balkan
| expedition would require at least 400.-
| OOG men, and that under these condf-
| tions Greece would ruin herself without
even the consolation of saving Serbia.
Passage for Allies Allowed.
"'On the other hand says the note.
| Greece offers all the service she can
render in allowing the free passage
over its territory Of the allies troops
going to the Serbian front, and in main
tanning her own army on a war foot
| ing -..-t~
The note expresses the gratitude of
Greece for the offers made though not
yet concrete and thanks England for
| the offer of Cyprus. 1t recalls the
Greek sympathies for the entente and
the benevolence of the neutrality main
tanned thus far. 1t ends by saying that
Greece does not forget that a state. no
matter how small, has the absolute
right to regulate itself its own for
tunes"
Greece Makes Denial.
The Greek foreign Office has denied
both the reported erbo-Bulgarian un-
derstanding and the existence Of pour
parIers for such an understanding. The
Nea Hellas, an OPPOSITION organ, not
withstanding this denial, Insists that
negotiations are proceeding.
In discussing Great Britains offer to
cede the Island of Cyprus to Greece, the
newspaper PATHS, a supporter OF the
venizelos party, says that the refusal
| of Premier Zainis is not Of definite
| nature and expresses the belief that
the powers of the quadruple entente
again will approach the Greek gov
ernment. The Nea Hellas says that 1t
is evident the Greek government will
not accept and has decided to remain
absolutely neutral