Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-02-23

mand constitutional government, in
which there is room for two parties,
liberal and conservative. each with
a definite program, as In the United
states or England, or any other civil
iized country: not personal govern
ment, where the only party division is
into Venizelists and anti-Nenizelists.
Resentment Due to Allies.
THAT is one thing 1 wanted to say.
The other is about the effect of the So
called German propaganda in Greece.
The entente powers seem to have
adopted the attitude that everybody
who is not willing to fight on their
side must be a pro-German. Nothing
could be falser in respect of Greece.
The present resentment against the al
lies in Greece-and there is good deal
of it. especially since the blockade, is
due to the allies themselves and not to
any German propaganda, The proof Of
it is that when the so-called German
propaganda was at its height there
was little or no hostility in Greece to-
ward the allies. II has only been since
the diplomatic representatives of all
the central empires and everybody else
whom the Anglo French secret police
indicated as inimical to the entente
have been expelled from Greece and
any German propaganda rendered vir-
up any popular feeling against the en-
tente.
Part of this is due to the entente's
Identification of their greater cause
with the personal ambitions of Vent
zelos: but a great deal has also been
due to the very unfortunate handling
of the allied control in Greece. When
you write q personal letter of no pos
sible International significance to
friend or relative here in Athens and
post il in Athens and it is held a week,
opened and half its contents BACKED
out, II makes you pretty cross-not be-
cause it is unspeakable tyranny in
free country at peace with all the
world, but because it is so silly. For
after all, if you want to plot with a
man living in the same town you don't
write him letter. You put on your
hat and go to see him. Half the people
perated by just this sort of unintelli-
gent control which has irritated the
Greek people beyond any telling. But
to say that they are pro-German be-
cause they dislike having their private
letters opened or their homes entered
without any legal authority whatso-
ever is childish. It's vicious circle.
The entente take exceptionally severe
measures because they allege the
Greeks are pro-German. The Greeks
very naturally resent the measures thus
taken, as would the Americans or any
body else. The entente then turns
around and says: You see. that proves
that the Greeks are pro-German. as We
suspected
Feeling One of Sorrow. 1
THE fact of the matter is that there is
even now less pro-German feeling in
Greece than in the United States, Holland
or any of the Scandinavian countries.
And there is far less anti-entente propa-
ganda in Greece even now than there is
anti-Hellenic propaganda in England.
France and Russia The whole feeling Of
the Greek people toward the entente pow
ers today is one of sorrow and disillu- |
sionment They had heard so much OF
this war for the defense of little nations
that it has been a very great shock to
them to be treated, as they feel, very |
badly, even cruelty. for no reason and to
profit And. more than anything
else, after all the Greek government and
Greek people have done to help the entente |
powers since the very outbreak of the |
war. they deeply resent being called pro-
German because they nave not been wiIi-
ing to see their own country destroyed. as |
Serbia and Rumania have been destroyed.
LAS l have tried repeatedly TO point out
to the entente representatives there can
safety of the allied forces in the Balkans
as far as the Greeks are concerned-that |
is, mutual confidence. The assumption
that every Greek is an enemy and not to |
to every hothead to attempt something |
rreparable--irreparable for Greece as |
we'll as for the entente.
II have done everything l could 10
dissipate the mistrust of the powers, |
have given every possible assurance
and guarantee. Many of the military
that have been demanded l |
myself suggested. with view TO tran
1uiIlizing the allies, and myself Volun-
tarily offered to execute. Ny army,
" hich any soldier knows could never |
have constituted danger |
to the allied frees in Macedonia, has |
been virtually put in Jail in the Pelo- !
My people have been DIS
armed. and are today powerless even |
a gainst revolution, and they kno" /
from bitter experience that revolution |
is a possibility SO long as the entente |
powers continue to finance the openly |
declared revolutionary party of Eenl-
zelos. There isn't enough 1000 lett IN |
Greece to last a fortnight. Not the |
Belgians themselves under German rule |
have been rendered more helpless than |
are we in Greece today
Isn't it, therefore, time calmly to |
look at conditions in Greece as they |
are to give over a policy dictated by
manic and to display little of that |
high quality of faith which alone Is
the foundation of friendship?