Evening star., 1921-06-26
BY OLIVER OWEN KUHN.

A LIED governments, alarmed
~ by the increasingly grave
~ situation in the near east
have demanded in kid-glove
fashion that Greece consent to ar.
bitration Of claims conflicting with
the aspirations of the Kemalist gov
ernment at Angora. Greece, consent
ing. the next move will be the approach
OF Mustapha Kemal at Angora, and
possible eventual revision OF the
Sevres treaty. In this Greece faces
turbulent times. The work OF Veni-
zelos in the peace conference Will
have been nulled and all under King
Constantine. The great Grecian states
man will have the satisfaction OF see
ing his royal enemy fail miserably In
maintaining the historic Hellenic do
main after he had regained 1t. There
is certain to be tremendous reaction
In Greece. 1t is exceedingly likely
that unless the allies aid in material
way in STRENGTHENING the hand OF
Constantine the but recently returned
monarch will be forced to retire from
the Grecian throne again. The return
Of Venizelos is exceedingly likely IN
such contingency. But even though
the moparch remain, Venizelos will at
least have the satisfaction Of seeing
himself vindicated in the eyes of his
people. Undoubtedly he will go down
in history as one of the most powerful
statesmen ever coming from the Hell
lenes.
Power Built ON Bombast.
Constantine has endeavored to build
his power upon the maintenance of
the old Grecian empire, which Veni-
1elos obtained, but which act the
Grecian people so easily forgot under
the systematic and well organized be-
v0f0
Tho monarch returned from Switzer-
land and was greeted with great 2c-
claim. Since then he has expanded
upon tho wonderful destinies OF the
GfectAn kingdom, always emphasize
ing Greece's preponderant influence
east. He has emphatically stated that
tho Grecian flag never would come
down in Anatolia and Smyrna. He
has somewhat blatantly announced
that he might remove his throne to
Constantinople, there to preside over
the reclaimed empire. He has gone
to lead his troops in desperate battle
with Greece's hereditary enemy, the
Turk. Patriotic feeling has been
kindled high in Athens and the whole
has not percolated so largely In
the Greek army, which always has
been suspected of favoring Venizelos.
even after ostensibly pledging its 10y
atty to the returned monarch.
Constantine finds himself today con-
fronted by Turkish armies which he
has little hope of defeating. Warfare
in the near east has drained the Gre
clan excheQuer almost dry. lnf1icting
tremendous burdens upon the people
Of Greece. To 60 on he needs assist
anr,e ana unless there be serious men,
acc to Europe there is little chance OF
obtaining 1t. largely through mex
pediency of the allies striking for.
ward on further military ventures at
the moment. Constantine has found
tween Smyrna and Athens and his
vainglorious boasts have dwindled al
most to whispers. 1t is but natural
then that if Constantine can hnd
a way out Of his dilemma and save
even a small section of the spoils OF
war. which Venizeios dumped at the
fee of his people. he will do SO. Conse-
1uently it is practically assured he
will bow to the will of the allies when
they suggest arbitration of the Greco
Turkish differences.
King Must Consent.
Most recent dispatches indicate that
Constantine realizes he must consent
and that the allies will continue to
hold Constantinople, and that he is
bitterly opposed by the French and
Italians, who do not want more war
in the near east. Even though he
should succeed from military stand
point. there would be increasingly
grave diplomatic and political ques-
tions hazarding Greece's future.
But the giving up of single point
obtained in the Paris deliberations Is
certain to cause gravest reaction in
Greece itself. If the Venizelists are
still as " ell organized as they once
were there is little question that the
kings tenure will become exceedingly
shaky, if; in fact, his downfall does
not come Immediately.
In their proposals of mediation the
allies undoubtedly have come to the
conclusion that the near eastern ques-
daIlying for two years has only in
creased darkening diplomatic clouds,