Evening star., 1916-08-11


armament for the Greek army in that
event. Can you see Constantine lead
ing his men against the forces of his
brother-in-law, the kaiser, while Venize-
enemy, governs the country in the
royal name?
Kings Only Alternative.
Considering the attitude of the king
up to now. 1t seems only logical that
he must resist by every possible means
the return of venizelos to power, and
all that return entails. After all, the
king has put himself in the position
of the leader of a political party, and
consistent course to follow is that in
cumbent on a political leader who has
lost-retire to private life"
Outwardly, there is nothing visible
new Greek cabinet, under Premier
Zaimis, has loyalty carried out the
demobilizations and other demands in
the entente ultimatum of June 81, and
new elections have been set for early
September. Yet no astute observer in
Greece believes that this indicates any
real acquiescence in the terms imposed
by the entente ultimatum. The royal
lists, who for fifteen months succeeded
in holding the Greek constitution in sus-
pension. while constructing the founda-
tions of a more strictly monarchical
state, show no signs of abandoning
their purpose. The anti-Venizelist
newspapers are no less bitterly abusive
of the allies. A large proportion of the
army officers critisise the allies and
praise the Germans quite as openly as
before. And the shipowners, the ex-
porters. the politicians who saw in the
regime just ended realization of their
dreams of untold wealth, are as busily
scheming as ever to regain their lost
opportunity.
Basis Of the Contention.
Their reasoning is simple enough. The
king agreed to dissolve the chamber
and call new elections. But he did not
agree to accept the verdict of the peo-
pie, IL that verdict should prove the re-
turn of venizelos and the entry of
Greece into the war, Moreover, they
point out that the ultimatum itself
says: The three powers guaranteers
OF Greece do not ask her to leave her
neutrality"
King Constantine has always claimed
and apparently has sincerely believed
that II Is his duty to save his country
from the horrors of war which he
does not regard as by any means GER
Article 81 of the Greek constitution
reads: The king appoints and dis
misses his ministers" Article 32 adds
further: The king is the supreme
the military and naval forces. He de-
clares war, contracts treaties of peace"
etc.
1t is on these two clauses that the
apti-Venizelists found their conten-
tions. entirely ignoring article 30,
which reads:
NO act of the king is valid nor is
executed unless it is countersigned by
net int ~ IL
signature alone takes the responsibility
of it,
Nationalist Party Slogan.
With articles 81 and 80 in mind, the
nationalist party. as the new coalition
against Venizelos is termed. has gone
before the people with the slogan:
"Venizelos means dragging Greece into
war. Do you want war;"
On this basis they feel that they
have good chance of victory.
As one of the nationalist leaders put
II: The old men who stay at home
Will vote for war-because they don't
have to fight 1t. But the young men
who have just come back from almost
a year of being mobilized will vote
against war, because they have had
enough war. AS there are more young
men than old We shall win"
But should the nationaIists lose their
plan OF action is all ready. They claim
that the sovereign is empowered by
the constitution to set aside the ver-
dict of the people for Venizelos since
he appoints and dismisses his minis
ters" and the verdict of the people
for war. since IT is the king who de-
clares war.
of view after the elections, stirring
events are prophesied. The entente
powers are determined. II the SOW
ereign makes a stand against them.
then Constantine 1 may also be Con-
stantine last. The situation is the more
interesting in that there is nothing in
his previous career to indicate that
this prospect will in the least influence
King Constantine if he believes it is
his duty 10 make stand against the
entente powers for what he regards as
the prerogatives of the crown.
Issue Involved in Elections.
Government by the people or govern
ment by the military and commercial
oligarchy that has run the affairs OF
Greece for the last fifteen months is
10 be decided at the forthcoming cleo
ton Mflitarism is in the balance
against democracy; divine right of
kings is pitted against republicanism.
Greece in the war on the side of the
entente. for a stake OF double the
Greece of today-or Greece neutral
quietly accepting that part of her ter
ritory has fallen into the hands of her
ancient enemies, the Bulgars. and that
fully half the country Is under the
directing thumb of the allies
The haht Is already hot, though the
date OF the elections is not yet officially
set. Nenizelos is the raliying point as
well as the point of attack. The anti
Nenizelist journals are already calling
him a traitor. accusing him Of having
sold his country to the allied powers
and proclaimine him a potential die
tator who would turn his country into
a French protectorate.
View Of the Opposition.
The vsntselists are not 80 violent.