The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-12-07
Says Attitude of Country Comedies With That of America on Question of Neutrality
SPEAKS FRANKLY
 AND TO THE POINT REGARDING THE WAR

Allies Inclined to Sus- pect Slightest Move as
 Indication of Treachery Athens. Saturday, December 4.--(via Malta and London, December 6. By a Staff Correspondent of the Associated Press)-Constantin l. King of the Creeks, received the correspondent Of the Associated Press today and gave him message for America on the at- titude which Greece has assumed in the world war and the reasons for the policy which has been followed by the Creek government
 T am especially glad to talk for America" said the King, flor America will understand Greece's position. We are both neutral and are together de- termined, if it is humanly possible. not to court destruction by permitting ourselves to be drawn into the fright ful vortex of the present European conflict. Both are trying by every hon. orable means to guard our sovereignty, protect our own people and stand up for our national interests without sac rlficing that neutrality which we rec ognize as our only salvation.
 America is protected from imnedi- ate danger by the distance which sep arates her from the battlefield. We, too. thought that once But the bat tlef1eld shifted and may shift again. What is happening in Greece today, may happen in America, Holland or any other neutral country tomorrow II the precedent now sought to be es- tablished in the case Of Greece is once fixed.h
 PAINFUL SITUATION
 The interview With the King took place at noon in the smaller palace which is the Kings personal residence and the audience lasted an hour. The King was dressed in the simple uniform or Greek general, and he displayed the good humored, almost youthful can- dor Of the ideal soldier to whom dip- Iomatic expedience or lack of frankness seemed repugnant or impossible
 From time to time emphasizing the earnestness and sincerity of what he was saying, he dumped the table soundly with his clenched fist. Despite the seriousness of the message he was delivering, his fine gray eyes occa- sionally twinkled with raillery.
 The Fundamental cause of the en- tire threatening attitude of the entente powers toward Greece today and of the painful situation of my country" said the King. "is the ententes own assumption, without the slightest req son therefor, that Greece is ready to betray the entente to Germany at the first favorable opportunity. Is it req sonable to suppose such thing?
 From the very outset of hostiIities in the near east, Greece's neutrality has been stretched to the utmost to &C., commodate the entente powers, for whom we always felt the keenest sym pathy and the deepest gratitude The Dardanelles operations were directed from Greek islands occupied by allied troops. When Servia was endangered by the combined Austro- German and Bulgarian attack the allied. troops landed unopposed on Greek soil, from which, with the second city of Greece as base, they prosecuted, not only unmolested, but aided in every way consistent with any sort of neutral ity, their fruitless and too long delayed campaign to rescue their ally.
 Finally I myself have given my personal word that Greek troops will never be used to attack the Franco British forces in Macedonia, merely to allay unjustified suspicious.
 ALLIES ULTIMATUM
 "Yet. despite all these evidences of the good faith of Gi eece, the entente powers now demand, ir a form which is virtually an ultimatum. that the Greek troops be withdrawn from Sa- loniki-and that means all Macedonia leaving our population unprotected against raids by Bulgarian comitadjis n- ,Jl hn ,f tol, 1,,x, Belgium waste, should the allies be driven back within our frontiers.
 Just suppose the Germans were in position to demand that your country concede the use of Boston or Seattle as the base for an attack on Canada. What would you say? And if your mill itary experience and the advice of your general staff told you that such a land- ing place was doomed to failure be- cause made with an inadequate force. and you realized that the British troops in Canada would pursue the retreating Germans across New England, destroy- ing as they went, would you accept the prospect without a struggleT'
 "But had not your majesty German assurance that the integrity of Greek territory will be respected?" the King was asked.
 "Of course, and entente assurance, too ''
 And similar assurance from Bulgaria ?"
 Germany, said the King, "has given assurance for herself and her allies But that does not prevent the German Bull garian armies. as measure of military necessity. from pursuing the retiring French and British into Greece. fighting in Greece and turning Greece into a sec- ond Poland. I have that assurance also
 AFTER THE WAR
 That the Greek frontiers will be re- erected after the war does not rebuild towns or compensate my people for months, perhaps years. spent in living in misery as fugitives from their own land when their country is not at war and had nothing to gain by risking devastation.
 Why, the entente powers treat me as If were the King of Central African tribe, to whom the suffering of his own people were a matter of indifference. have been through three wars. know what war is. I do not want any more if 1t can be honorably avoided My people do not want any more, and if they and can help 1t, we shall not have any more"
 "Then your majesty does not believe that the intervention policy of the for mer premier. M. venizelos. really ex- pressed the will of the Greek people,"
 T know it did not" replied the King forcefully When the people reelected Venizelos they elected him. not his policy. The great mass of the people of Creece did not and will not, under