Evening star., 1916-12-03

tfon, come to the decision that Greece
ought not to enter the bloody struggle
in which almost al Europe gse,,sas was en-, m
holding to neutrality. had in mind al
the time the abandonment OF this
policy II at any given moment It should
come to the eonsiSt11n snstns. tnn and r." dan.
gers of war 1t would serve the ma
tional aspirations
d, UNFORTUNATELY it has not been pos
i sible for us: up TO tnus s1 antas. thai
Greece, in entering into the European
confifct. would not be going to tnevi-
table destruction.
Greek Interests in Mind.
"rn remaining neutral the Greek gov
ernment had in mind solely Greek in
terests. and not. as has been repeateoiy
insisted on, sympathy with one OF the
two groups Of belligerents. creek
government could only think of the IN
terests of Greece The geographlca
situation of Greece. which placed IL III
very direct contact with one OF tne wv
groups of belligerent powers mar
the application of its poicy Oh nsu
trality very difficult. 1t is Tor tnas
reason that she has been forced to SUP
nit to the occupation by foreign arms >
of her Macedonian provinces anu 70
permit the belligerents to dispose OF
her ports. public buildings ana worss
Of art: that her highways and raIiroads
have been forcibly occupied, ~hiie
bridges and tunnels worth many mil
lions have been completely destroyed.
Men Ordered From Vessels.
"At the moment when the present
Greek government assumed power an
imposing feet was blockading the en-
trance of the Strait of Salamine. the
anchorage of the Greek fleet. and in
spite of our protests and our formal
refusal we were constrained to order
our officers and sailors to abandon the
vessels of the light fleet in order to
spare them the grief Of surrendering
the vessels upon which not very long
ago they had contributed to two vic
torious wars
For about month the Greek peo-
pie have seen with very real pain the
administration by foreign control OF
nearly all it's public services. its land
communications. it's postal service, tele-
graph and telephone service. The Greek
commercial fleet has seen it's activity
hampered by repeated Inspections and
by restrictions of every sort. For q
long time Greece has been able to I'M
port from abroad only what is abso-
lutely Indispensable to feed and sus-
tain the country and to furnish for
it's commerce. both by land and sea, the
necessary fuel
Hospitality Suffers Affront.
And now the traditional hospitality of
the Greek people has suffered an affront
which has been profoundly painful. The
will of the strong has been constantly
placed in opposition to the legitimate
protests of Greece: nevertheless. the lat
with the patience and dignity which small
nations possess in the highest degree.
But the last demand OF the admiral COM
ma nding the naval forces of the entente
in the Mediterranean. in which he invites
the Greek government to hand over the
war material acquired at the price Of
heavy sacrifices, and which from the
nature of the Greek people can serve only
for the defense of the national interests
that demand. | say, is one of those which
the people. its constitutional leaders. the
army and the navy. are unanimous in
refusing.
The Greek government confident in
the support Of the entire nation. has re-
Jected and will continue to reject this la ct
demand which most deeply wounds the
Greek conscience and which constitutes a
serious infringement Of the sovereign
rights Of the country.
Cannot Surrender" Is Claim.
Greece cannot surrender its arms and
cease for the future to protect herself
against possible dangers.
Il believed it my duty, Mr.. Minister.
to set before you in all frankness the
very painful situation in which Greece
now finds itself in order that you may
enlighten your government and the
public opinion of your country on this
that the neutral nations understand
that the spirit Of conciliation and OF
equity Of which it has given proof hz 3
been unable to save the Hellenic peo-
pie from the grave vicissitudeS through
which the country is now passing We
are not strong enough TO escape them.
Tor they are the unpleasant result Of
the geographical position Of Greece and
of the conflict OF interests of the great
belligerent powers. Nevertheless.
strong in it's right Greece il not losing
heart, but is confident that DESPITE all
SIZE viii come out OF the present crisi.
weakened hut intact and ready to re-
cuperate its strength for the accom-
plishment Of its duties toward HELEN
ism
II do not doubt. Mr.. Minister. that
you will give me. in these painful cir
cumstances, the support which / ask Of
you. ] am convinced of the sympa-
thetic interests which you have for the
affairs of our country and ! can as
sure you that this conviction is a pre-
ctous one for the Greek government
and the Greek people, in the midst Of
the trial which they are experiencing
Accept etc ZALOCOSTAS