Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-01-08
ALLIES PLANNED
TO DEPOSE GREEK
KING, Is RUMOR
Letters Found on British
Diplomats, Captured by
Austrians, Reveal Plan
WOULD CREATE REPUBLIC

VIENNA, Jan. 8.
Letters found on two British diplomats
who were taken from The Greek ship spezia
by an Austrian submarine reveal that the
Entente Allies had under consideration a
plan to depose the King OF Greece and
make that country n republic. with for
mer Premier Venizelos as President
The captured officers are General
Napier, formerly military attache In Bull
garia. and later assigned to the English
Embassy in Athenc, and Captain Wilson,
a member of the British Parliament.
Both were on their way from Athens to
London.
Some of the correspondence follows
The following is from letter from Mr..
w. Y C, employed as secretary in
the English Embassy In Athens:
ATHENS. Nov. 2S 1915.
According to my opinion 1t is best to
depose the King and make Venizelos
President of the Hellenic Republic. but
everybody seems afraid uf such drastic
means Unfortunately. the King is very
popular with most of the army"
From letter by Mr.. r., connected
with the British Admiralty:
ATHENS, December. 2. 1915.
II am convinced that the people and
the King himself recognize the mistake
'htN nave IlbNt, Out tne hlnE lS SO OD-
stinate, he remains immovable. IL is my
conviction that after this war there Will
be no more kings. They alone have
caused our misery"
GREEKS FEAR GERMANS.
From letter by Mr.. w. Y. c.,
secretary in the English Embassy In
Athens: D..
ATHENS. Dec. .. 1915.
Il hope that they will soon decide at
home whether or not to continue the Sal
onica expedition The Greeks are trying
by every means to persuade us to give UP
the expedition. My opinion Is II Is very
important that we take safe position
here and defend Salonica during the win
ter; then. If NJ great expedition is thought
out. this will tie up hostile force and
prevent their being withdrawn to another
field of battle
THE Greeks fear the Germans too much
TO attempt the protection of their coun-
try They say they will remain on
lockers, and VIII admit the enemy if we
insist on remaining here. They are most
miserable as one can imagine. All we
nave to do is to make them fear us more
than they fear the Germans For this
purpose we have a strong fleet, which
Is waiting and ready in case OF emer-
gency to make demonstration"
Following is the captured Embassy re-
port:
From Sir +. Elliot, English Ambas-
sador in Athens. to Sir Edward Grey:
ATHENS, Nov. 16, 1915.
with reference to my telegram No.
1917 of today, | have the honor of sub
mtting copy of the document which my
French colleague presented this morning
TO the Ministry with the representatives
of Great Britain, Italy and Russia and
which contains discussion of the points
which COnCngSipng demanded n
the Greek Government
with expression of my highest respect.
ELLIOT.
Postscript:
First. Withdrawal of Greek troops
from Salonica and vicinity.
"Two--.ntirely free right of disposal OF
railroads and streets to the border, es-
pecially In the section OF Krvolak and
Monastir, so that we may have not only
in the city itself, but also In the vicinity
every means which is necessary for our
protection and for the organization of a
border of protection within the radius OF
Salonica and the peninsula Of Chalkidike.
This is of the greatest Importance to in
sure the safety of the expedltionary
troops.
"Three-Freedom Mt sea, as. for in
stance, the right to visit ships and boats
in territorial waters and to search for
and destroy hostile submarines and their
bases on the coast and In territorial
waters.
I'm consideration of the difficult posi-
tion in which the withdrawal of the
Serbian army toward Albania and
Montenegro will bring the troops of the
Allies, 1t is of the greatest necessity that
this wish be granted not only verbally.
but also by action-that is, by evacuation
of the vicinity of Salonica by the Greek
troops. which must be withdrawn In
order not to hinder our movements for
our protection"