The sun., 1919-01-30
MINISTER ROUSSOS
HONORED AT DINNER
Greek Envoy Hopes for Amer
lean College at Foot Of
Acropolis.
WANTS U. s. IDEALISM
Diplomat Reviews Noble Part
His Country Took in
the War.

A sense OF the debt which the whole
civilized world--and particularly that
part Of II triumphant in the war just
endins-owes to Greece and the Ideals
OF Greek civilization was expressed last
night by all the speakers at dinner
TO George Roussos. Envoy Extraordi-
nary and Minister Plenpotentiary OF
Greece in the United states, who leaves
to join Premier Venlzelos at the Peace
Conference In Paris. The dinner was
held at sherry's.
The speakers were Nicholas Murray
Butler, president of Columbia Univer-
sity; Marcel Knecht OF the French High
Commission. Alfred Marling. president
OF the New York State Chamber or
Commerce: job f. Hedges and Mt
Rouseos himself. The dinner was given
by group Of the friends Mr.. Roussos
has made during his eighteen months OF
diplomatic service In this country. lie
was for more than n quarter OF CEN
fury leader OF the international bar
In Egypt. where he became close
friend Of the late Earl Kitchener.
DR.. Butler acted as POSTMASTER and
introduced the various speakers. He was
tho first to strike the keynote-the ooli-
CATION of all the ages to Greece-and
said that the whole purpose OF the din
ner was that those gathered about Mr.
Roussos might express TO him the regard
this country has for SO distinguished
| representative Of so distinguished a
people.
Tribute to Mr.. ROussos.
He paid tribute TO Mr.. Roussos's work
| IN the United States. TO his capable
handling OF the foreign affairs OF tho
/ nation he represented and expressed the
| assurance that Mr. Roussos would carry
back to his people n full comprehension
OF what the American people are doing
and will DO for Greece in the work OF
the worlds reconstruction.
I Or. Butler said one OF the permanent
| results OF Mr.. Roussoss stay in this
country. taken with the great world alli-
| ance which has brought Greece and the
United States together In the lists
against the common enemy. will be the
establishment of n permanent under
standing between the Hellenic peoples
| and our own.
The same thought was expressed by
Mr.. Marling and Mr.. Hedges in speeches
| which followed that Of Mr.. Roussos. NJ,
|
have occupied him while in this country
| said: IL perceived that certain preju-
dices against Greece and against certain
| OF her civilians resident In this country
stood In the way OF tho perfect under.
| standing between our two nations, which
to a great extent 1t was my mission &c
bring about. This prejudice ! sought to
remove and found the task not difficult
Tenth TelIinr Policy
"It has been a policy OF Nenizelos &c
speak the truth always. hence | never
hesitate to acknowledge the defects o.
our national character. During centur'
les OF martyrdom We have seen Greece
employing every energy and resource II
conserving her race and religion.
IN tho last ereat crisis Greece gave
the world a new. strong proof or hei
sense OF honor as a people. When called
upon to choose between a peace Of dis
honor and war with all its horrors. the
Greek people. through their regular cleo
tion. according to her constitution
voted outright for war.
when the deslre thus expressed wa
wilfully misunderstood by a sovereign
who believed in absolutism. Greece re
VOTED against the tyrant. 1t called
upon its people. whose families and for
tunes lay at the mercy OF Constantine
and demanded that the Greeks deser
their all, follow their leader to Salonica
and assume tho burden OF sacrifice no
.. in a spirit OF egotisr. but in order t.
wipe out the stain which the policy o
Constantine had imposed on the ma
tonal honor.
They entered the war in order to keel
the engagement which they had entered
into with Serbia, their gallant ally.
I 81. Ing
Greek people in its entirety aligned itsel
on the eide OF honor, which demanded
Of the individual Greek that he sacrific
himself for the honor Of the nation.
Proof of Creeks Honesty.
when we see a people that Is so az
tached to its ideals and so proud OF II
, good name frankly recognizing II
, faults and showing that It is endeavorini
to rid Itself OF these faults. we hav
. clear proof that 1t is an honest Ropl
and worthy OF such consideration as ma.
be bestowed upon II.
Let me say now, with hoetilities over
that we seek the benefit of America,
activity and enterprise so that We ma,
more rapidly exploit the vast riches o
. the Orient. that We may capture an
place at the free service of mankin
those natural forces which to-day ar
being wasted.
above all II is your moral supper
, OF which we are in need and We hop
, to see in tho future at the foot of TN
Acropolis an American college whic
shall bring to us American ways q
! thinking. which shall teach us an Amer
! lean idealism, and which will so happil
, combine with patriotism that instruC
, ton which America is able to g!ve in 3
large measure"
The debt OF FRANCE 10 Greece. ancle-
and modern. was acknowledged b
Marcel Knecht. when he said:
: IT wish to tell you how the republl
OF France has always loved and al
l mired Greece. because Greece has q
ways suffered and because IL has a
ways been valiant and soverelg,
Greece has helped to curse the tyrar
I. which has been crushed by the Allie
France admtres that ep!rit. and realize
how well VeniZelos reckoned when h
knew that he could rely upon Franc
4 and ultimately upon the United State
! TO bring about the overthrow OF III
0 monarchism which threatened Greco
\ England. France, Greece and the Unite
= States, we have been altogether In or
y ldealism.
Q France realized the mettie OF III
Greek soldiers who arrayed themselye
= with her and her cause, and you Amer
I cans have seen In your armies the dar
5 browed men whom you knew in civ
n life only as emigrRnts from the Aesea,
= Now they have come back to you. cit
: Gems not only of the great republic c
liberty. bat citizens more than ever c
the great republic OF the United States
Mr.. Hedges Remarks.
l