The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1916-08-12
BY What 1t Considered Its Pro
teCtOrS Declares Former
Greek Minister.

lGClUIo UCGIdl Go VI IIICI
Greek Minister.
Correspondence Of Associated PROSE-
, ATHENS. Aug. 10. Agamcmnon
Schlicmann. member Of the Greek
Chamber of Deputies and former
Greek minister to Washington, after
a conference with the leaders Of the
late government has issued a state
ment addressed to The Associated
Press and cmbodying the point OF
view OF the Greek Conservative party
regarding the recent intervention OF
the powers in Greek affairs. The
Statement is issued in English:
I'VE have been profoundly humiIi-
atcd that those whom we have al
ways considered the protectors Of our
national life and of our Independence
should have succeeded, by threaten
ing the use Of brutal force, in inter
yening in the Internal affairs Of our
country.
strong in the conviction Of our
! right, II Is our duty to point out, the
cold facts as they are, not only to
the great neutral powers OF the
world, among which America holds
so prominent place but also
| through the medium Of the Ameri-
can press, to point out the same facts
TO the conscience of the liberal people
of Great Britain and to the gallant
French nation so imbued with the
immortal principles Of 1888. We
cannot believe that the people OF
these two countries have Il full
knowledge of the attempt upon our
constitution, our national liberty and
our independent political existence
made by the government of France
and Great Britain and their accredit-
ed representatives in Greece.
Colossal Carnage.
when two years ago Austria, by
her ultimatum to Serbia, demanded
in addition to other claims that rep
resentatiyes of her Judiciary sit be-
side the Belgrade judges in inyesti-
eating the crime OF Serajcvo, the
whole world cried that Serbian free
dom was being abolished. and Il
world war seemed justified by TINS
tramplng of small nations rights
by one of the great powers OF ltu-
rope. When later on Belgian neu-
traIity was violated, Great Britain
thought herself justified in taking
arms against Austria's ally in de-
Tense of the rights of a weaker ma
ton.
"Throughout this colossal carnage,
all the neutral nations have been
repeatcdly told that this is war for
the liberation OF mankind from the
threat of German militarism, for the
protection of smaller peoples from
the cncroachments of the stronger
and more greedy nations. How then
is il possible that the people of Great
Britain and France or that the great
American people should approve the
high-handed methods by which the
liberties and Independence of the
Hellenic people were abolished by a
few strokes of the pen of the allied
ministers in Athens?
"The demands of the three powers
signatory to the note Of June u are
known. Chief among them are the
dissolution of the Greek parliament
and the proclamation OF new cleo
lions. We Greeks are so constllu-
tional a people that even while pro
testing against the manner in which
these new elections have been forced
unon us, we would nevertheless re-
spect the national verdict Of the polls
| if. as is stated in the Entente uItl-
matum, the elections take place
after the Greek electors have re-
| turned to normal conditions OF lie,
Desire Elections.
but we ask the impartial Judg,
ment of America if foreign haya.
and military occupation of over nan
of Greece and martial law declared
and maintained throughout Mace,
donna constitute such normal Condi-
lions of life aa will permit the free
electors Of Greece to perform then
duties as citizens uninhucnccd by the
nrescnce in Greece of the Alice
troops or If deputies chosen under
/ these circumstances Cdh u'"'''' ;
represent the VIII of the nation eN'
pressed unhampcred by the influence
/ of foreign bayonets.
Would not elections held In Bel
GUM today under the heel Of Ger
man soldiery or in Serbia, under the
control of the Austrians and the BuI'
parians be hailed throughout the
world as farcia? How then Is the
case of Greece any different from
these?
Since the beginning of the wal
/ Greece has been benevoIently neu'
tral towards the allied powers not
lust simply neutral. One might say
without fear Of exaggeration that
Greece has done everything but hghl
on the side of the allies! But it IS
not enough that the allied power:
| have established naval and military
bases on every foot of Greek sol
mat thew have deemed necessary oil
useful to them; nor that they main
tain an army 100000 strong OF
Creek territory in defiance Of every