The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1924-03-29
Former British Premier Com
mentS on Downfall of
MonarChicaI Govern
mentS,
ADMlRER OF VENIZELOS
BY The Right Honorable David Lloyd
George, o. NJ. NJ. P. Former
British Prime Minister)
Copyright. 1924. by United Feature
Syndicate. Incl

the globe, dwell under republican in
situations. Before the war there were
two republics in Europe; today there
are eleven. There are also nine
monarchies. The Greek monarchy is
the latest to disappear.
Greece, after twelve years Of war
abroad and restitution at home. is
once more torn with cruel dissension
She has made up her mind she has
enough Of kings. After the disasters
into which she has been plunged by
the late dynasty. I should not have
expected much hesitation in answer
ing the question insofar as the
Glucksbourgs- ere concerned.
constant Struggle
Greek history for the last ten years
has been one Of constant struggle be
tween an obstinate and unimaginauve
monarch and a minister Of genius; one
exerting all his kingly powers and per
sonal popularity to ruin his adopted
land-not with deliberate intent. but
out OF obstinate and prejudiced
Etupidity-the other using all his fine
gifts Of craftsmanship to save the
race, Of which he Is the greatest liv-
ing specimen, from the catastrophe
into which the foolish king was driv-
ing II. The people have been hope
lessly torn between loyalty to the
throne and attachment to a great ma
tional leader.
1t is inconceivable 10 friends Of
Greece abroad why the nation should
have hesitated in their choice between
Constantine and Venizelos. Never
theless in 1921. after the greatest
achievements OF Venizelos for his
country. the electorate threw him
er. the second time by a decisive
majority. and now. for the third time,
they have rejected his cOunsels.
Less Grateful
Gratitude Is not supposed to be one
Of the virtues of a democracy. and
Greeks. being more additionally
democratic than any other race in
the world. are perhaps less grateful
than any other.
Many times in the past have they
cast away men who rendered serv-
ice. OF whom the world reads today
and viii continue to read for ages
to come with admiration and wonder.
A fieeting glance over. the events Of
the past ten years in Greece Is enough
TO convince an impartial observer
that the Greeks were under no oLliga-
ton Of loyalty or affection to the de
throned dynasty.
When war was proclaimed in
Europe, the rulers of Greece, ike
those of many another power, great
and small, had to decide wherein the
interests of their people lay 1t was
a terrible responsibility AMI the de-
cision was rot easy. The sympathies
OF the King Of Greece were. for many
personal reasons. all of an h0nora BILE
character, with the Kaiser.
Wives Enter
II Is always difficult TO appreciate
the degree of influence exercised upon
rulers and leaders of men by their
wives There never has been a case
where it was not a subject of contro-
versy-some exaggerating this influ-
ence, others understanding 1t. In all
cases. however. it is safe 10 assume
that those who say that a King or his
equivalent is entirely under the dom
nation of his wife in his public ac-
tons are just as mistaken as those
who say the wife does not exercise
any influence at all upon his judg-
ment.
The quiet influence Of a woman is
often more potent than the direct AID
obvious. COnstantine's policy was
probably not determined by his
Hohenzollera cOnsort, but it would be
foolish to pretend that the fact that
the Greek king had married so near
a relative of the German kaiser did
not have an effect, and a serious one.
IRON the conduct of affairs in that
country during and since the war.
With Entente
Constantine could not have declared
openly for the central powers. what
, ever his predictions were. He could
not have carried his people into that
camp. Their sympathies would be.
for historic reasons, first with Eng
land and then with France. Apart
from that, there is no country in Ell-
rope-except Britain-so vulnerable
to attack from the sea.
It's numerous islands could have
been cut off and it's capital placed at
the mercy of foreign fleets. The de-
cision later on so ftally taken by
Gar Ferdinand Of Bulgaria was there
fore denied to Constantine. The only
service he could therefore render Ger
many was 70 procure the neutrality
of Greece. BY doing so, he would con-
siderably embarrass the campaign of
the entente. He stubbornly resolved
on neutrality.
Had he made up his mind that, in
the event Of the defeat of Turkey in
the war, Greece would seek no fur
Their extension of it's frontiers and
annexation of no more islands, then
there was nauch TO be said for neu-
traIity. But there was nothing TO be
said for the course the king actually
pursued.
TreacherOus
It was his treachery that enabled
the Bulgarians to occupy a position
on Greek soil in which they were al
most impregnable and thus, TO beat
hack the allied assault with heavy
losses.
From the consequences of this be-
traysl. Venizelos saved his country.
What the result might have been but
Tor timey aid during the intervention