Evening star., 1923-09-03

iFODller.
The note adds trat Greece is pre-
pared to pay all reparations such a
conference might consider just
Gives Greek Version.
The Greek governments version of
the controversy with Italy has been
presented by Premier Gonatas to the
American delegates leaving Athens
for Geneva to attend the international
Near East Relief conference begin
ming September Z as the representa-
tives of the American humanitarian
organizations. here.
The premier received the delegates
in the war Office.
The Greek government does not
ear an impartial investigation of the
Teilfni murders" he said. I'VE firmly
believe that they were not prepetrated
py creeks; certainly there is no foun-
dation for insinuattons that they were
committed by Greek bands whose ex-
ment
We will gladly render fullest honor
10 the dead, which is an act of inter-
national courtesy we would have per-
formed in any case. We will gladly
amount to the families of the dead.
recognizing the fact that the murders
We're committed on Greek soil. We
viii gladly permit and invite the
Italian military attache to accompany.
investigation by our Judges at Janipa: !:
III fact. this we did spontaneously
within a few hours of the murders.
But beyond these just claims we
can not admit Italys right to demand
acts inconsistent with our sovereignty
and humiIiatiug to our national dig
nifty. We can not humiliate ourselves
oefore the Italian flag, when we never
had the slightest intention of Insult
ing it: we can not pay a huge fine.
when payment of such penalty
would be admission of guilt; we can
not turn over the authority Of our
courts and judges to Italian officials.
when such action would admit that
they were incapable of administering
Justice. We have committed no
wrong; our national honor will not
permit us to plead guilty of crime.
we have suggested through the
powers that Italy lay her case before
the league OF nations tribunal. of
which both italy and Greece are mem
bers. We will gladly accept any rea-
. sonable arbitramept. in full conf
ness of innocence and honesty. We
hope the outside world will support
this demand.
| Protests to World.
meanwhile Greece lodges strong
protest with the civilized world not
only against the unjustifiable occu-
patton of Corfu. where Greek and Ar
ed, but also against the anti-Greek
acts which have been permitted in
Italian cities in the past few days.
such as the expulsion Of Greek jour
nalists. the tearing down of the coat
of-arms of the Greek consulate. the
burning OF the Greek flag and as
saults on Greek schools"
CnConflrmed reports received here
yesterday said that the Italians had
|; occupied the islands of Samos and
Cephalonia.
In her reply to the protest which
the interallied council of ambassa
doris made against the Janina MUIR
dcrs, Greece says she is prepared to
pay such reparation as an interna-
tional conference on inquiry might
deem equitable. The reply points out
that a Greek investigation of the
massacre could not extend beyond the
frontier. and that therefore action by
an international body would seem
preferable.
The newspapers are filled with res
olutions passed by various public or
ganizations protesting against the oc-
cupation of Corfu. which is described
as a violation of existing treaties and
International law.
The papers also print a message
from the archbishops and bishops of
Asia Minor to the various heads OF
the world churches and an appeal
from Greek reserve officers to those
! in the American. British. French, Ru-
manian. Serbian and Belgian armies.
After the requiem celebrated in the
cathedral yesterday for the victims of
the Corfu bombardment, natives of
the island resident here marched
through the streets They were dis
persed by Abe police before reach
ing the Italian legation. which Is be-
ing guarded by a detail Of men act
in@ under the orders of the govern
ment.