Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-01-26

enc0 is one OF Qtfncult1eS and cOmpnca-
lions. The secret
The Troublesome treaty Of London.
signed April rs,
London Treaty. 1915. by represent
atives of Great Britain. France. italy
and Russia. whereby Italy agreed to en-
was assured certain territorial conces-
sions in consideration. proves now to be
one of the most troublesome factors in
the adjustments which must be made
before peace is restored. This treaty
not only runs counter to the claims of
the Jugoslavs to the DaImatian coast
and other areas on the eastern shore Of
claims of Greece. which have not here
tofore received much international at
tention.
Greece has certain well defined claims
to present at Paris. They fall into three
groups, one relating to the Epirus and
southern Albania, another to Thrace and
Constantinople, and the third to Asia
Minor. In support of all these claims
the Greeks set up the principle of self
determination and repatriation. In all
the areas. they contend, the Greeks are
numerically preponderant and have
never relinquished their aspiration for
nationality.
Under the treaty of London Italy was
guaranteed not only control Of the Dali
matian coast, but Av-
Albania and Iona and bridge
head in Albanian
the Eplrus. territory of sufficient
extent to assure her against dangers of
a military kind" and undertook '.in the
event Of small autonomous and neu-
tralized state being formed in Albania
not to oppose the possible desire of
France, Great Britain and Russia to
partition the northern and southern dis
tricts between Montenegro. Serbia and
Greece" The southern coast of Albania
was to be neutralized. Greece, refusing
to recognize the secret treaty of
London as binding. claims all OF the
Epirus as historically and ethnologicalIy
Greek. In a recent address DR.. j. N.
Metaxa. former governor of Saloniki, de-
cIared that the Inhabitants of that re-
gion. without distinction OF religion or
race, Jews. Grees and Musselman alike,
have repeatedly expressed their will
to be Greek citizens. Greece never
agreed to the formation of the state of
Albania following the Balkan wars, and
does not now consent to any treatment
OF that Adriatic littoral that ignores the
Greek claim. II that is granted the
whole of the Epirus and portion of
southwestern Macedonia will be included
within the jurisdiction of the govern
ment at Athens.
In support of their claim to the
Thracian area, including CONSTANT
nople. TIL e
In Ancient Thrace Greeks point
and Constantinople. defense ~
Europe's frontier against the Turks
centuries ago by their ancestors. Con-
stantinople fell to the Turks in 1883.
and since that day the Greeks have
dreamed of their restoration to au-
thority in the city of the straits. 1t is
generally recognized now that Turkey
will be deprived of all power and
sovereignty west of the Dardanelles
and the Bosporous. and the question
has arisen az to who will administer
the former capital in the interes. OF
international peace. The Greeks hold
they alone of all the nations have a
historical claim, and point to q state
ment by the late sultan to an Amer
lean newspaper correspondent reia-
tive to Russia's desire TO acquire Con-
stantinople and the straits: II any
one has q right to these it Is certain
" the Greeks, from whom in the hf-
teenth century we wrested both Con-
stantinople and the BospDrus."
This claim to Constantinople In
cludes the region known as Thrace,
which as q result OF the Balkan wars
was gained by Bulgaria. Concession Of
tho Greek claim to TdrAce would cut
Bulgaria on from the Aegean and