Omaha daily bee., 1916-08-13
GREEKS SEND NOTE.
Set Forth Abuses They Have
Endured at Hands of the
Allies.

Endured at Hands of the
Allies.
WANT TO PRESERVE RIGHTS
Correspondence of The Associated PressD
Athens. JULY 3l.-Agamemnon
Schlemann. 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
meut addressed to the Associated
Press and embodying 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 humili-
ated that those who we have always
considered the protectors OF our ma
tional lie and of our independence
should have succeeded, by threaten
ing tho use of brutal force, in in
tervening in the internal affairs of
our country.
Strong IN the conviction OF QUIZ
right, it is our duty to point out
the cold facts as they are, not only
to the great neutral powers Of Tie
world, among which America holds
so prominent place, but also through
the medium of the American press. to
point out the same facts to the Gen.
science of the liberal people of Great
Britain and to the gallant French
nation, so imbued with the immortal
principles Of 1889. We cannot be.
lleve that the people of these two
countries have full knowledge OF
the attempt upon our constitution.
OUT national liberty and our indepenc-
ent political existence by the govern
ments OF France and Great Britain
and their accredited representatives
i'll Greece.
To Preserve Rights.
when two years ago Austria, by
her ultmatum to Serbia, demanded
in addition to other claims that repre-
sentatives of her judiciary sit be-
side the Belgrade judges in investigat-
ing the crime of Serajevo, the whole
world cried that Serbian freedom
was being abolished, and a world war
seemed justified by this trampling OF a
small nations rights by one of the
great powers of Europe. When later
on Belgian neutrality was violated.
Great Britain thought herself justi-
fed in taking arms against Austria S
ally i'll defense OF the rights of a
weaker natiop.
"Throughout this colossal carnage,
all the neutral nations have been re-
peatcdly told that this is war for
the liberation of mankind from the
threat Of German militarism, for the
protection of smaller peoples from
the encroachments of the stronger
and more greedy nations. How, then,
is it possible that the people of Great
Britain or France, or that the great
American people shall approve the
high handed methods by which the
liberties and independence of the Hell
lenic people were abolished by few
strokes OF the pen of the allied min
listers i'll Athens?
Election Later.
"The demands of the three powers
signatory to the note of June p are
known, Chief among them are the
dissolution OF the Greek Parliament
and the proclamation OF new elections.
We Greeks are so constituted a peo-
pie that even while protesting against
the manner in which these new cleo
tons have been forced upon us, we
would nevertheless respect the nation
al verdict of the polls if, as is stated
in the entente ultimatum, the cleo
tons take place after the Greek cleo
tors have returned to normal condi-
tons of life
But we ask the impartial judgment
OF America ii foreign naval and
military occupation of owe one-half
of Greece and martial law declared
and maintained throughout Mace
dona, constitute such normal condi-
tons of life as will permit the free
electors of Greece to perform their
duties as citizens, uninfluenced BY the
presence in Greco of the allied troops,
or II deputies chosen under these cir
cumstances can honestly represent the
Will OF the nation, expressed, unham-
pered by the influence of foreign bay
OnetS.
Would not elections held in Bel
GUM today under the heel of German
soldery, or in Serbit, under the con-
troll OF the Austrians and the Bulgar-
ians. be hailed throughout the world
as tarcical? How, then, is the case OF
Greece any different from these2
Greece is Neutral.
Since the beginning of the wal
Greece has been benevolently neutral
toward the allied powers-not iust
simply neutral. One might say with.
out fear OF exaggeration that Greece
has done everything but fight on the
sides of the allics But it is no
enough that the allied powers have
established naval and military bases
on every foot Of Greek soil that they
have deemed necessary or useful tC
them; nor that they maintain ar
army 100000 strong on Greek terri
tory in defiance OF every principle o
neutrality; nor that they exercise
freely the right OF search in Greel
ports and Greek territorial waters
nor that they tamper, not alone witt
the foreign, but also with the domes
tic, mails of Greece-they now seel
to take hand in the purely interna
concerns of Greece. 1t is just as i
Great Britain, on the ground that tn,
! United States were once an English
colony were to demand that the con
gress be closed, new elections held
and the dismissal of the chief of no