New-York tribune., 1917-06-13
Exit Constantine

from his throne! Possibly another dy-
nasty extinguished. For Constantine of
Greece, too late in all things, was perhaps
zoo late. in bowling to the inevitable, TO
save the succession for the son in whose
favor he has just abdicated. 1t was un-
derstood after the Rome conference last
winter that the throne of Greece would 60
eventually TO a ruler named by Italy, pre-
sumably some member of the House OF
SAVOY. It remains to be seen, therefore,
whether recognition by the Allies of the
claims Of Constantine's second son, Alex
ander. will be anything more than a pass
ing makeshift.
Constantine held on too long. He might
have made favorable terms with the AL
lies by quitting year or year and
half ago. He might have insured Greece
substantial recognition in the settlements
which are TO follow the war. He might
have given the Greek nation a chance to
recover some Of the prestige which 1t en-
loved in the years following the Second
Balkan War. But Constantine had no
thought for Greece's future. National in
terests and honor bulked small in his mind
compared with his personal prepossesslons
and family alliances. He chose to serve
Germany, not Greece, and he was Wiling
TO sacrifice all Greece was or could hope
TO be 10 an obstinate indulgence OF his
pro-Teuton sympathies.
No King ever rode more recklessly Tor
fall Greece had had rebirth of en-
ergv and prosperity under her great mod
ern statesman, Venizelos. Constantine
hated this wise and liberal leader. he
plotted against him. violated the consti-
tuition to eject him from Office, undid his
creative work and repudiated the alliance
with Serbia through which Greece had re-
gained her long lost sovereignty IN Mace
donia. He was willing to consplre win
Greece's traditional enemies-with the Bull
oar and the Turk-n order to serve Ger
man purposes. He delivered Greek terri
tory to Ferdinand and ordered Greek
troops to surrender and be interned IN
Germany. His treacherous policies drove
the Venizelists into revolt and divided
Greece into two sections, with rival gov
ernments. For two years he has worked
almost without concealment against the
Allies, threatening the rear OF Sarrall
Allied army above Salonica and keeping
it hobbled to its base. The Allies have
borne his provocations with almost lncon-
ceivable patience. Their passlvlty has
been one of the many mysteries of Bal
kan diplomacy which started hopeiessly
wrong and has never yet extrlcated itself
from the consequences of its original blum
ders.
Constantine's fate can awaken no SYM
pathy except among those peoples whose
tool he chose to be- But Greeces plight
due to her ineffective protest against his
ruinous pohcies-excites pity. Greece has
souandered her opportunities. She is
partially dismembered now. No one can
tell how far the process of dismemberment
may go. Italy has already occupied South
ern Albania and taken over a part Of
Epirus Venizelos certainly deserves some
recognition from the Allies. But appar-
emily the golden hour has passed for the
establishment of a Greek republic under
his leadership.
/ Constantine's evil deeds will live after
him to plague and hamper Greece. He
made himself one of the most despicable
figures of the war, and the misfortune Of
! it is that his deposition cannot close the
chapter for his former subjects. They
will continue to suffer in honor power,
territory and national aspirations for the
faults of bigoted incompetent whom they
themselves lacked the vision and moral
energy to send into exile.