The New York herald., 1922-12-15
GREECE in POWER
OF SMALL CLIQUE
Like a Ship With Amateur
Pilots, Crew Divided
in Two Factions.
EXECUTIONS END FEUDs
elimination OF Six Years
Hatreds of Yenizelists
sssi COnstaatinists.
PERSONAL POLITICS RULE
King Has Good Sense to
Maintain Attitude Of Per
feet Figurehead.

spsc,ay Cable to TIE NEW ToaE HxsAtD
Copyright 1892, 5v THE NEW YORK HERALD
ATHENS Thy courier TO Romeo, Dec
l4.-Greece is like a leaky ship over
loaded with amateur pilots. She skirts
the rocky coast without a course ana
is in danger OF sinking every Tune
{; the boat rocks. It is the foreign ana
not the domestic situation which Is
giving the revolutionary Government
sleepless nights.
When they are not wondering what
arrangement with the Powers is pos
sible to give security against iurtner
Turkish aggression and for the pro-
lection of the neck OF land extending
into Thrace; and against possible
Serbian and Bulgarian occupation OF
the neighboring 4Fgean ports, the
soldiers of the revolutionary Govern
ment become amateur statesmen and
trv 10 figure out how TO make one
ration Of bread feed four people
three natives and one refugee.
Only by roundabout means is IL pos
sible to give the inside story or the
revolution and the recent execution OF
tho Constantine Minister'S. because the
revolutionary censor ruthlessly silences
criticism and local journalists. who dare
to disobey the censor are placed. III jail
six Years of Feuds.
The execution of the six Ministers
marks the tragic elimination OF SIX
years OF feuds between the Constantin-
lists and venizelists In which personal
hatred. instead OF national welfare. pre-
dominated. Constantine's personal am
bition was to go Venizelos one better
and he encouraged the dream OF Greece
resurning her Byzantine tradition and
the domination OF Constantinople.
The -veuizeiists are not necessarily re-
oublicans. The socalled revolutionary
government Is moderately Venizelist, out
prefers to maintain a tanned monarchy.
They have neither a political nor
social losram.
II wEs characteristic OF each recent
Greek disaster that It provoked as a con-
sequence some bitter personal rivalry. II
Is only recently that the Greek people
lost their taste for politics and apatheti-
cally let anybody govern them. Inc
overthrow of King Constantine after the
Asia Minor disaster was easy. lie began
packing his bags when Col. Plastaris,
head of the revolutionary government,
first sent an airplane with revolutionary
posters over Athens. Then handful
OF Colonels took over the power IL
Athens without the people saying yes
or no. The same clique is still holding
power and are exerting all their efforts
10 put $4,000 men into lighting shape.
But there is likelihood that other
r,iuues may take over the Government
with just as much ease as the present
military clique took Il away from Con-
stantine. The revolution Itself was
oioodless The executions did not be-
yin until the more radical officers led
by Plastaris took power. Their argu-
nent was that the world would not take
their revolution seriously unless exam
oies were made OF the Minister'S.
The shootings settled q long personal
,eud and deprived the Constantine move
nent of effective leadership. That the
revolutionary Government then turned
20 a more moderate policy was indicated
by the comparatively mild punishment
OF banishment imposed on Prince An
drew a British naval officer appeared
at the time Of the trial. making instant
representations for sp9ring the life OF
the husbend OF Princess Alice of Bat
tenburg. He dined with the Prince that
nig>. -.rd awaited tho sentence.
lHeTc arc sun ONcI At-Ay tOlficA NC.4-
stantinist leaders Imprisoned in Athens
and the trials will begin again next
week. The revolutionary Government Is
making serious effort 20 restore the
army. but Il does not inspire political
confidence. Coils. Plasta-is and Gonatrs 8
Of the revolutionary Government and
the Cabinet heads undoubtedly are sim
cere.
Plastaris. brave and somewhat IA
natical soldier, Ia ignorant OF every
thing beyond soldering. He favors a
vigorous Revolutionary policy and has
assumed responsibility for the execu-
tons. Gonstas Is a moderate who
favors the speed,est return 20 a consti-
tution.l government.
Col. Tangolos. the supreme military
commander. is the least reassuring fg-
ure in the group. lie is more dis
5inR'ished for his lobbying in Athens
and for his freouenting gambling clubs
than for his bravery.
Opposition Is underground.