New-York tribune., 1920-11-18
Exiled King Says He Will
Not Return to Greece
Unless Plebiscite Gives
Verdict i'm His Favor
Compares Election
With L. S. Landslide
Defends Conduct i'm War
and Insists Wisdom of
His Policy Is Proved
By Ralph Courtney
Special Gable to The Tribune

Copyright 1920. New York Tribune Inc
LUCERNE, Nov. IT, Former King
Constantine of Greece asserted TODAY
In an interview with the Tribune cor
respondent that he would not return to
Greece until the people clearly demon
stated that they desired him to do So.
lie favors plebiscite for this purpose.
and wishes this arranged when the new
Chamber, which is controlled by the
Constantine party, meets. He desires
only to return if unity can be secured
thereby.
The King defended his course during
the war and said that before Venizelos
took power it was his policy to make it
possible for Greece to intervene later
with some show of success. He said
that if he had intervened at the time
1T was demanded of him his countrv
would have been overrun by the Ger
mans and Bulgarians.
lie asserted that if he returned to
Greece it would not be his desire to
make any change in the national policy.
He believes that Greece should espe-
cially regard England as its future
friend.
The King said it would take at least
another month to arrange plebiscite
concerning his return. He hoped that
Americas dem mocratic citizens would ex.
press such real appreciation of the
Greek demonstration Of popular will
that France and England would be
bound to respect the echo thereof COM
ing from across the Atlantic.
The King followed the course of the
Presidential campaign in America with
much interest, and he said the Ameri-
cans would appreciate the revolution of
feeling against the personal rule Of
Venizelos which was demonstrated in
The Greek elections.
Awaits Call of People
I asked the King what he intended
to do, now that his party was in power
in Greece.
II shall do nothing" he replied. "As
far as know, shall remain here for
the present. | have always held to
democratic principles and have no in
tention of returning to Greece until
the people clearly demonstrate that
they desire he to do SO.
81 would like, when the new chamber
assemblies, to see plebiscite taken of
the whole country so that the people
may declare clearly their will
regarding my person. I left Greece
rather than attempt resistance for the
sake of my own position and to save
the shedding Of Greek blood. l pre-
ferred to leave the country. l desire
to return only if unity can be secured
"As for Nenizelos, l have TO desire
to take any action against him or the
others of the oligarchy which has been
ruling my country.
my particular hope is that, above
all countries, America, which has just
held its own elections, will appreciate
what revulsion there must have been
against the personal rule of Venizelos
followed Senator Harding's campaign
and election with great interest, and
if my information is correct, l thinl:
the Greeks in America voted almost
unanimously for him. I have great
affection for America. because, though
a King, | am a democrat, and I be-
lieve personal rule cannot be main
tanned nowadays.
Says He Was Msrepresented
"Please accept my statement, until
all facts have become Of general knowl-
edge, that | have been very badly rep
resented, both regarding my sentiments
toward the Allies and in other matters
by those whose interests it was to make
out a case against me.
81 might have entered the war on the
side of the Allies at the time which |
Continued on page three)