The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1921-02-07
CROWN RESTS LIGHTLY
ON C0NSTANTINE'S HEAD

ACnenS, Jan. Zu.-\by MAIL TO
United Press -Despite the fact that
IS per cent of the Greek people vot-
ing favored the return of King Con-
stantine, the Hellenic crown rests
lightly upon the alleged pro-German
rulers head.
Constantine is back. Back to stay,
according to the Royalists. But un-
derneath the surface. is an undercur-
rent that allied statesmen predict will
make his future reign tempestuous.
The Greek people brought Constan-
tine back for two reasons. First, &C.
cording to competent observers, be-
cause they were tired of the misrule
Of Venizelist partisans; secondly, be-
cause Constantine had been forcibly
expelled and their vanity had been
pricked.
For days preceding the plebiscite,
and prior to the election, the national
watchword was "erchete-He is COM
ing" Today it is ''Irthai-we have
brought him" Tomorrow, a promi-
nent Greek admiral, who has served
in diplomatic capacities in Paris and
London, said, it may be 1--WE have
kicked him out"
A most significant observation
noted by many, is the temper of the
Greek soldier. Thousands were
brought to Athens from Smyrna after
the elections to participate in the
plebiscite and welcome the king.
Several battalions modified were
for return to the front. The regu-
lars, who, for more than a week, have
not been subject to military discipline
upon order by M. Demetrius Goun-
arts, minister of war, were surly and
sullen. They chanted:
''He is here. We have brought him.
Now we are going back"
On the other hand, the new recruits
marched forward singing the Con-
stantine song, "The Son of the
Eagle" and carried placards and pic
lures of Constantine.
Entente military observers station
ed with the Greek army declare the
morale has been maintained by con-
slant assurance by Venizelist that
they would soon occupy Constantine
pie and restore the standard Of the
Byzantine empire over the Mosque,
where now flies the Star and Cres-
cent.
King Constantine's hold on the peo-
pie is half religious, half superstitious.
In the folklore runs the legend that
some day king and warrior named
Turks the capital Constantine the
Great died defending. The peasant,
filled with Royalist> propaganda, be-
lieves that the present king is destined
to be that crusader.
If Constantine goes to war-at
present-he will have war-weary
population and a bankrupt exchequer
back of him, assuming the entente
fails to foot the bill. On the other
hand, if he fails, he will have a dis
illusioned populace to explain matters
to. Venizelos has record to point
out-thousands Of square miles added
to the national domain. He also has
a record of ignominious flight to erase.
But so did Constantine-and he came
back.
Withdrawal of allied credit would
shoot 1.-THE Greek army's morale to
pieces, officials declare, while relin-
quishment of the Greek irredentist
dream of Constantinople would elm
Innate the incentive that has kept the
nation and it's unreclaimed popula-
tions united through more than eight
continuous years of war.
If the. allies adopt an obstructionist
policy, Greek statement will be faced
with the alternative of repudiating
Constantine or forsaking their fond