Norwich bulletin., 1920-11-01
Paul Hesitates in
 Taking Greek Throne
Will Accept Only in the Event That the Greek People Do Not Wish the Return of Constantine.
Constantine.

Lucene Switzerland, Oct 30. = Ac- | ceptance of the Greek throne by Prince l Paul depends entirely upon the wishes of the Greek people, he told the Greek minister to Switzerland today, when in- formed verbally that the Greek govern ment considers him called to assume the duties of sovereign. He declared only in the event the Greek people did not wish the return of King Constantine and ex- cluded Prince George, the Duke of Spar ta, he would accept the offer made by the government
 considered the throne belonged to King Constantine and that Prince George had the first call to the honor. The minister, in extending the offer to Prince Paul, said the Greek government desired to know in advance whether King Constan- | tine and Prince George would recognize I the accession of the younger prince. "I thank you, as well as the Greek
 government" Prince Paul declared, flor
 the sympathy you have extended on the | occasion of the death of my beloved | brother, and. replying to your offer, l beg you to convey the following knowl- l edge to the Greek government, and re- l quest the latter to convey it to the peo- | pie of Greece. I declare I do not share ] the point of view of the Greek govern
 ment, by which, according to the consti-
 tuition, I am today called to ascend the throne
 ''The throne does not belong to me, but belongs to by august father. King Con stantine, and my eldest brother, Prince George, is constitutionally his successor. l Neither of them ever renounced their
 august rights, but both were obliged to
 leave Greece in obedience to their su-
 preme patriotic duty. The government
 itself recognizes as much by official
 declarations as by this offer which you
 have made in it's name. The solution ol
 the question raised by their departure is
 still in suspense.
 "Concerning the special conditions spec
 flied in your offer, the king has always declared himself willing to subordinate
 his will to the free expression of the de sires of the Greek people. As for Prince ) George, he has never made any declara tion at all and it is not for me to asl him to renounce his rights. I am con vinced my point of view corresponds tt : that of the Greek people, to whom, th 7 right in my case belongs. in the exercis
 of its sovereign rights, to make fina decision by the free expression of it will, to which we all should, in the In e terests of our dear fatherland, submi f ourselves without opposition.
 By this expression of the will of tn s Greek people, internal peace will be ful f l ly assured, and at the same time tn e bonds which have always united tn : Greek people to the dynasty founded b
 my venerated grandfather, the late Kin e George, will be strengthened. All mem . bers of that dynasty possess the event . ual right to the throne. I would. thel :. consent to ascend the throne only i s a the event of the Greek people deciding = does not desire the return of my augu: ; father and excludes Crown Prince Georg
 from his rights of succession
 l | ply of Prince Paul tp the government offer was published here tonight.