New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-10-21
The Greek Mess

moment being widely published about
Greece. most of it having its origin
in German sources, but not niue
Coming from the inevitable insist
ence by certain Americans upon
reading into situations they do not
understand the same sort of material
that Secretary of War Baker read
into the Mexican situation when ne
oompared the bandits of the Mexican
revolutionary forces with the SOL
diers of Valley Forge.
First of all, the German effort 70
convince the world that 1t is the
British who are stamping out Greek
liberty is at once transparent lie,
and an effort to turn American pub
lie sentiment against Britain. What
ever the merits of the case may be,
If is not the British who are engaged
in coercing the Greeks; 1t is the
French. whose troops are in Athens,
and we have every reason to believe
that il is the British who are the
most reluctant in consenting to take
such steps as the safety Of Sarrai's
army demands.
As to the familiar comparison OF
Greece with Belgium, this is utter
nonsense. The Allies went to Sa-
lonica,on the invitation of the Greek
Premier. Venizelos; his consent was
not opposed by King Constantine at
the moment. Venizelos desired to
ioin the Allies. Constantine de-
clined and abrogated Constitutional
Government in Greece. But a new
general election resulted, despite the
enormous influence of the Throne
and the lavish use Of German money,
in a victory for Venizelos. There
upon the King again upset the Con-
stitution, drove Venizelos out of
power and has, in fact, been ruling
Greece without regard to Parlia-
mentary sanction ever since.
To-day half of Greece is actually
in revolt against the King. A sep
arate government has been set up by
Venizelos and large sections OF Greece
have Joined this. We had in New
York the other day mass meeting
of representative Greeks, who very
eagerly and very earnestly Endorsed
Venizelos and demonstrated their de-
sire to see Greece stand with the
Entente and against Germany.
Now no one will suggest that the
Prime Minister of Belgium in Au-
gust, 1914, invited the Germans to
enter Belgian territory. No one will
suggest that there Is any Belgian
sentiment favoring the Germans at
the present moment There is no ag-
itation anywhere in King Albert's
territory for q policy different from
that which he pursued and benev-
olently disposed toward the Germans
II It had been possible to discover
such a sentiment or to find men to
voice it, does any one suppose the
Germans would have failed TO turn II
TO their advantagel
The simple truth about the Greek
situation is that the King and his
court are pro-German, that he, as
commander in chief Of the army,
has been able to put his friends, who
share his pro-German sentiments, In
control, but that otherwise Greece
is pro-Ally, overwhelmingly. Con-
stantine's policy has wrecked his
country's future and produced civil
war. II the Allies only had little
more courage 1t would long ago have
cost him his throne. But il would
seem that the British, who are being
accused by the Germans Of display
ing cynical disregard for the rights
of ''little nation" are actually
holding up the whole Allied policy OF
coercion. Once more Sir Edward
Grey is disclosed as the champion of
the Same genteel methods that re-
suited in the ruin Of Serbia and the
loss Of the Balkans.
And It would appear that golden
moment has been lost because OF
Allied infrmity Of purpose. Sarrail,
already handicapped by lack Of re-
sources, was unable to take advantage
If the Rumahian incident, because
he had to protect his rear against
the Greek army and the German
agent, Constantine, who had no other
purpose than 10 serve German ends
and 10 earn in the field that decora-
ton of Field Marshal in the German
army bestowed upon him by an as
tuts brother-in-law, in recognition
of military achievements In the
Second Balkan War and against the
Bulyars, whor he has now per
,oitted 10 occupy Hellenic territory.
sOseitofs for the rights and