The evening leader., 1918-11-04
National Union of
DOdecaneSians of FlOrida
Tarpon Springs, Fla.


dom ard liberation of the unredeemed peoples
With the full confidence that this, appeal, is ad
dressed to representatives of people who put the al
tar of the worlds liberation all that they have and are
We are taking the liberty, Honorable Sir to express
to you the following:
When the barbarous conqueror Turk, relying upon
s animal strength entered and overfowed Europe
unfortunate Aegean Islands, after long and hard resist
ance, were forced to surrender under his scepter.
Centuries of black and sinister slavery have passed
and the unfortunate inhabitants have suffered all sorts
OF debasements and dishonorngs.
Only faint idea of the vandalisms of that period
we may nave from the orgies they perform the
fortunate peoples, Greeks Armenians and all other
Christians still under their soveregntv TODAY in the en-
llghtened Twentieth Century.
However, Honorable Sir the inhabitants of these
Islands have the noble pride of national origin and while
they have been for long under the whip of the murder
Gus conqueror they have retained undimnished their
Greek spirit their Greek language, and their Greek
Christian faith undefed having always as their pro-
tector and guide the Almighty, and hoping that there
would dawn day when justice would be granted to them
day on which they would be given the right to proclaim
and declare that they Greeks and that their only
choc and the only reward for whatever they have su
tered to live and be governed with their other Greek
brethren IN one great and undivided Hellas.
That day we thought to have dawned when Italy oc-
cped the southeastern islands of the Aegean sea he
Dodecanese) purely as war measure for the sole pur
Of forcing Turkey to make peace and for the dev-
cry OF Irpoitania which the only purpose of the
Turkish-Italian war;
The inhabitants of the Dodecanese, regarding the
ltalan occupation as the first step toward the flment
OF their eternal DESIRE at once took steps to proclaim
their genuine Greek origin and their steadfast reso-
luton to be reunited with their Mother Greece Greek
as were flying the churches and private houses and
the inhabitants were celebrating the event as the first
step toward the consummation CT their wish
Great was the surprise and disappointment of the
unfortunate inhabitants honorable sir when the Italian
government, contrary to the procamaons and assur-
ances gwen sent into exile all the who took part
heads OF the reunions and meetings of the people during
the celebrations. The Greek flags were taken down. by
force in several instances The playing of the Greek Ma
Conal Anthem prohibited; and the fundamental
right Of free people to hold their reunions and meetings
and proclaim their wishes taken from them It would
perhaps be only fair to state that these were
not unanimously approved by the Italian people; but
fortunately at that period the Italian people were hyp-
notzed by the administration which allied with Ger
many and Austria and had accepted the principle of Ger
man kultur that might makes right" in accordance
Win Whch prlnclpe the Italian government
Quoted and guided.
Meanwhile, with the outbreak of the present war
Italy decided that her alliance with Germany and Aus
ta did not bind her to aid them against the Allies and
alter long diplomatic discussions between Italy and the
belgerent nations both sides the Italian people rose
up and demanded their participation in this the
side of the Entente.
The terms on which Italy entered this struggle can
only be sulsed but may be safely assumed that they
cover three important points
First: The restoration to Italy Of the Italan-speak
ing provinces OF Austria at least far Trieste and
the western half Of the stra peninsula possibly ncid
ing Pola.
Second: To secure permanent foothold on the AL
banian coast thus completely controlling the entrance to
the Adriatic.
Third: AS the success of the Allies can hardly fail
to result in the dsemhenlent Of Turkey it is all but
certain that Italy will be sharer in the spoils She
has probably been promised the Dodecanese and territory
in Asia Minor
Already Italian statesmen have ceased to talk about
unredeeed Italy and are affirming that Italy must real
ize her Legitimate national asprations'-a phrase of
eminent good form and indefinite elasticity.
Unfortunately at at
was internally divided between traitor king and his
clique hand and the Greek people, represented by
the Liberal party of which Mr. Eleftheros Venizeos
the leader on the other
T1,.oo