The Washington herald., 1922-10-01
No Fun For King
These Days, Says
Deposed Ruler
Constantine Surprised at
Failure of America to
Recognize Him.
By OTIS SWIFT.

ATHENS, Sept. 3O.-"Bstween you
and me and the gate post. being a
king is no fun these days. 1t is a
lot of hard work.
Thus Prince Glucksbourg. re-
Gently King Constantine Of Greece.
chattily summed up his personal
opinion Of recent events in an in
terview today. An hours conver-
sation in the garden of the Royal
summer palace at Tatoy. outside
Of Athens, Is the first and only in
terview the former king has given
since his abdication.
Leaves Today for Palermo.
He said he expects to leave to-
morrow with the former royal fam
lily for Palermo, Italy. on a mer-
chant marine transport. The for
mer monarch. who looked tired and
nervous. but CHEEKY, refused to dis
cuss Greek politics II veolumi-
nously surveyed the general Euro
pean situation, however, declaring
that all Europe was tottering into
chaos. He condemned France Bit
terly and denounced the American
policy of non-participation in Eu-
ropean affairs, saying: Why didn't
you recognize me? You call Amer
lea democratic. but you don't recog-
nize me. What kind OF democracy
is that?"
Uses American Slang.
Constantine's English is without
accent and he speaks in a low, tor
rent of nervous eJaculatory sen
tences, using much American slang.
You are an American" he said.
Il cannot understand America.
Much of our trouble here has been
due to the fact that America did not
recognize me. why shouldn't they
recognize me2, 1t was over ONE
silly question in Mexico. The pow
els said that If the United States
recognized me they would do so.
What has Mexico got to do with me?
Surprised at L. s. Democracy.
You call America a democracy.
That is a Greek word-demos-rule
of the people. You talk about freedom
and letting everybody be free. But
you don't recognize me. What kind of
democracy is that | think America
ought to do something about this
Smyrna situation. America Is a big
nation with a world of prestige She
should keep order in the world and
see that the Turks do not conquer
western civilization.
You say Americas policy is non
intervention? That policy is doing
Europe a lot OF harm. together with
the foolish terms Of the peace tres-
ties, which messed up everything. OF
course. they twisted Woodrow Wilson
around their fingers in Paris-have
you read Keynes book? But America
IL,
order. She shuld put an army in Asia
Minor and keep these uncivilized
Turks from upsetting the world
Keeps His Cigarettes
Constantine paused. produced a sill
yer cigarette case and lit a cigarette.
He did not offer me one. but passed
matches across the table when i pro-
duced my cigarettes.
81 hope the revolutionary army thor
oughly defeats the Turks. They
must. The Turks are still the same
uncivilized nomads who invaded Eu-
rope 500 years ago. They have not
produced any culture or art. If they
get Thrace they will be a constant
menace to Western Europe. Their pol
icy is determination OF Greece. We
can and must defeat them in order
TO DTNStINR Allt AFItth TallOfl.
With characteristic abruptness
Constantine changed the conversa-
tion.
You have got lots Of Greeks in
America. haven't you? ! used to
ride around town in an automobile a
lot. One day ] saw a man wearing
queer pants. stopped him and
said: What have you got onT He
said. Those are overalls-I have
been to America They develop
into a fine type in America. ] have
seen them. But | don't understand
your governments attitude. Why
didn't they recognize me2
What are my plans? haven't
any particular plans. / and my wife
are leaving for Italy tomorrow on a
ship the revolutionary government
has placed at my disposal. My
daughter and brothers are going
also. ] am going to Palermo first.
How does II feel not to be ring?
Between you and me and the gate
post l do not care anything about
not being king. Being king is no
fun these days. 1t is a lot Of hard
work. 1 now want to live like a
plain country gentleman"
tn>--risht Iseal