Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1916-01-21
GREEcE's PROTEST

protest the Ufeek mOnarc! mas paced DeIOft
the United States through its principal new:
agency.
Let the diplomats and warrior statesmen OF
Europe juggle with techncalities of treaties
as they may-and both sides are doing 1.-THE
general opinion of the neutras will ultimately
uphold Constantine's protest. The neutral ma
tions will conclude that the brusque action of
the Allies in seizihg-for it amounts to that
and occupying Lemnos, Imbros, Mvtilene, Cas-
telloriza, Corfn SaIoniki, part of Macedonia
and other portions of Greek soil is entirely be-
yond even the most elastic conception of the
benevolent neutrality which Greece offered.
On December Z, King Constantines first
statement to the Associated Press was printed
in the newspapers of America. Part of this
statement was as follows: .r.r~"
II am especially glad to talk fer America for
America will understand Greeces position We
both neutral and together determined If it is hu
manly possible to court destruction by permit
ting ourselves to be drawn into the rightfu vortex
of the present European conflict. Both trying
by every honorable means to guard sovereignty,
protect our own reope and stand mp for nation
al interests withou sacrificing that neutrality which
recognize only salvation
Just suppose the Germans we're in position to
demand that your country concede the of BOSTON
Seattle as the base for attack on Canada.
What would you say? And If all your military ex-
perience and the advice of your General Stan told
yon that such landing doomed to failure be-
made with inadequate force, and you real
lied that the British troops in Canada would pursue
the retreating &c New England destroy.
ing as they went, would You accept the prospect
without struggle?"
Now the whole principle of the Allied occu-
patton of Greece rests on the theory that Greece
by treaty with Serbia is bound actively to par
ticipate in the war. OF this contention it is
sufficient to say that neutrals differ fatty on
the extent of Greece obligation many compe-
tent authorities holding that the treaty with
Serbia was,never intended to cover the contin-
gency of an attack on Serbia by the great Cen
trail powers In which Bulgaria-the original
enemy--is a minor ally. Greece herself de
clares she is justified in remaining neutral
Thus unless this treaty is unqualiiedy bind
ing, the Allies are carrying out in Greece al
most precisely the same violation of neutral
territory Germany originally proposed to
carry out in Belgium-that is the Transports
tion of troops across Belgian SOIL
If we leave aside the intricacies of treaty
obligations, the sympathy of the neutral world
must be with Greece. In the name of common
sense and common humanity who can blame
Constantine for trying to avert from his peo-
pie the terrible fate that has befallen Belgium,
Serbia and Montenegro Always, after prom
ising aid If tie smaller count Ties would stand
firm, the Allies have arrived too late-and the |
little nations have been submerged by the redi
tide Of war was 50 in Belgium; it was con
spieuously SO IA Serbia What indemnity after
the war can compensate Belgium or Serbia forI
their sutfefings because the Allies could not
block the aiding Teutonss And who cam
wonder that King Constantine doubts the abil- |
ity of the Allies to hold back the Germans and
Austrians from his frontiersP Has he not every
right of experience to believe that half or three
quarters of his country would be crushed by |
the Teutons before the Allies could "muddle
through to a late defense!
Unquestionably there is much of German
sympathy at the Hellenic court. Queen Sophie
is an influence against active participation with
the Allies Yet is has been plain from the
first that Greece was yielding more to the
Allies thanesto the Teutons. Venizelos went
beyond all neutral limits in his promises and
was dropped from the premiership, and then
the Allies attempted to hold Constantine to the
Yenizelos pledges 1t will be remembered that
French troops had landed at Saloniki before
the Greek parliament knew of it, and what
storm of questions the next two days brought
forth in Athens, while British and French SOL
diers were being poured into Saloniki and adj
iacent territory! Constantine stretched chen
evolent neutrality thus far, but when the
Allies began occupying many other portions of
his country, when they demanded that the
Greek army mobilize he made his first protest
to America Tthn ONLY forum of nuhlic ODininn -