The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1922-09-28
NConstantine's Abdication.

MCOnStantlne'S AbdlcAtlOn.
CoNsrASrISE has again stepped
down from the throne OF Greece, this
time not as a temporary expedient
such as was forced upon him by the
world war but b. his own proclama-
tion OF abdication. He names as his
successor his oldest son, Prince
GEORGE, who previously refused to ac-
cept the crown upon the terms pro-
posed by the Allies and shared his
fathers exile in Switzerland while
his younger brother ALEXANDER ruled
az King.
His failure to win against the
Turkish Nationalist forces in Asia
Minor was the undoubted cause Of his
overthrow. The Greek army and
navy, the people of Athens and the
opponents OF vENrzELos, who less
than two years ago enthusia stically
welcomed him to Greece and ac-
claimed him the leader to carry them
on to victory, clamored as loudly
for his abdication when he returned
from Smyrna with q defeated and
disorganized army and Greek ideal
lost in Turkish triumph. In Cox.
srASTrSE's overthrow there are all
the dramatic ele-lents which find ex-
preston in the political life Of q
volatile people. The whole blame OF
failure Is placed upon the shoulders
cf the most conspicuous figure, the
Ministry is overthrown, the people
riot at the capital and the army and
navy rise in revolt.
For the moment Greece finds man
on horseback in Colonel GoNATAs. the
apparently self-appointed leader OF
the revolution. That idealism which
could foresee nothing but Greek
race gathered into revived Hellenic
Kingdom, Greek banner flying over
Saint Sophia and Greek capital on
the Bosporus might be expected to
raise up strange gods. No nation
has suffered more in the past from
its politicians than Greece. And 1t
is equally true that from the time
when the Military League ruled at
athens to the present no people has
endured more from its small men
and at the same time more willingly
deposed it's ablest men. A good illus
iration OF this was in the return OF
CONSTANTINE himself and in the BAN
ishment OF vENIzELos from the con-
duct OF public affairs.
CoysrAyTIEE's return meant the
return to power Of the men who had
favored his policy in the war. This
policy had endangered the unity Of
the State and had brought Greece
to bankruptcy. vEyIzEIos. who was
sacrificed that CONSTANTINE might be
reseated upon the throne. was man
whose skill as diplomat had Sc
cured at the world councils the very
things which Greece most desired.
Whether he would have succeeded in
carrying out ell the details of the
ISans he helped to formulate may be
question. But his strength as
Buropean statesman would have pre-
vented Greece from suffering the hu-
initiation which CoxsTASTINE's rule
has brought.
Should Crown Prince GEORGE be
enthroned the new Greek Queen, sue
lessor to SOPHIA, sister OF the former
Emperor WILLIAM and the reputed
power behind CoSsTANTrNE's policies.
will be ELIZABETH. daughter Of the
King and Queen OF Rumania. The
Greek house has another tie with the
Rumanian house through the mar
rfage OF GEoE6E's sister with the
Crown Prince Of Rumanis. Prince
GEORGE Is the brother-in-law of ALEX
AMBER. King OF Jugo-Slavis. the Ser
bisn Queen being also a Rumanian
princess. The strength Of the alli-
ance which Queen MARIE hoped TO
form In the Balkans through inter-
marriages will thus be put 20 a test.
Should IL realize her expectations
Rumania and Jugo-SlaVla VIII not ue
aligned with France but will aid
Greece in the present crisis.
The new ruler OF Greece will as
cend the throne faced by more seri-
Gus problems than perhaps ever be-
fore confronted the Hellenic king
dom. He has people brought
fortunate ending OF ten years war
In pursuit OF the ideals OF Greek ma
tIonalism. In these ten years they
we're led into misadventures, first in
the world war. where they we're
iobbed OF their supreme chance for
playing noble and vital part. and
then into struggle in Asia Minor.
where they had only small chance