The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1921-12-25
AMERICA IS FRIEND
OF GREECE FOR 100
YEARS, SAYS ENVOY
continued from Page one.

secure It's liberty From the very
outset Of our war of liberation. we
had to struggle not only against
the Turks. but against the opposi-
ton of absolutistic monarchicai
traditions.
America First 70 Help.
America was the frst country to
extend to us an encouraging word
of sympathy and to extend to US
some material help. The noble and
soul-stirring appeals of Daniel
Webster, the celebrations of Henry
Clay. still resound In our minds and
evoke our gratitude towards the
people who were the frst
to befriend us and sympathize with
use in the hour Of our distress. Nor
can we forget the 'inestimable hu-
manitarian work carried on during
our war by the late DR.. Samuel
Howe Of Boston.
From that time on the relations
between Greece and America have
been of an unclouded cordially.
They present a unique instance OF
two countries drawn together for
a space of one hundred continual
years by bonds of close amity and
good will. without the least cause
for friction or suspicion or doubt of
the sincerity of the sentiments bind
ing them together.
An Example to World.
Well, then. this is very precious
kt,t 81.
the rest of the world, serving as
should exist between two Chris
set and a sacred trust which must
not only remain intact. but must
be strengthened and extended by
every means at our disposal. 1t
Is for this reason that my gov
eminent has sent me here on a spe-
cial mission on this important and
epoch making occasion when your
President has convDked
a congress which bids fair to mark
a new departure in civilization ana
progress.
The whole OF the world. and es-
pecially the Near East. is at the
present time so distracted with
problems and difficulties of all
kinds. that 1t is incumbent upon us
to always be ready, as far as pos
sible. to offer by patient inquiry and
the means OF COM
promise and the removal of mis-
1t will be my du-
ty. n occasion arises. to offer such
to that erect and TO
minimize the possibilities of mis-
Had Retired from Service.
At the same time may tell you
that this mission has come upon
me not only Unexpectedly, but con-
trsry to all reasonable anticipation.
I had retired from the diplomatic
service Of my country. after a ca
reer CT forty-nine years. by virtue
of the law of age limit. 1 had al
ready overstepped that limit dur
the last great war, wnen l was
serving as Greek minister in Lon
don: but my government wished mo
to remain at my post until the end
of the war. Then I retired as
doyen of the Greek diplomatic
service. my government conferrins
upon me the permanent title Of
honorary Greek minister, with an
ALLOWANCE DcsIuts MY
pension. and further comforting up
en- me the Grand Cross of the Greek
Georgian order.
Summoned for Mission.
For these exceptional honors II
was necessary to vote a special en-
actment; and I looked forwari
with pleasure to the prospect of de-
voting the rest of my years to those
literary pursuits which have an es-
pecial charm for me. Suddenly.
however. and without premonition,
the Greek prime minister, who was
on a visit to London. made a strong
appeal to my sense 81 patriotic du-
ty, calling upon me to undertake
this most honorable mission.
He said to me that he wished to
send to the American government
the foremost Greek diplomatic serv-
ant as a token of honor and regard,
and also because he knew that on
a previous occasion in 1883 I had
been chosen by the Greek govern
ment of that date for a special mis-
sion to the United States, when I'M
der the Presidency OF Mr.. Cleve-
land. a new tariff bill was being
discussed. and Greek products had
to be safeguarded against any
over-heavy taxation.
Feels Bound to America.
That mission was, / am glad to
say. most successful. I again Wis
tied America six years later. But
beyond these official presidents
there were certain private incidents
which curiously enough bound me
very closely to your great country.
My godfather was the American
chaplain in Athens, the late Rev.
DR.. John Henry Hill. On entering
the diplomatic service, more than
half a century ago, the first post
to which was named was that Of
secretary to the Greek Legation in
Washington. My younger brother
studied agriculture in the Univer-
sity of Illinois, and I, myself, con-
tributed for some twelve months
regular correspondence from Lon
don to the Evening Post under the
editorship OF the late Mr.. Godkin.
also contributed, at about the
same time, a series of eight or nine
articles to the Forum on the study
Of Greek and on archaeological ex-
in Greece. And altogether
I have maintained very close friend
" rAlo tfana 18th vov-