Evening star., 1924-04-02

ready to join with the entente for
Immediate service.
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When the world war ended Turkey
still ruled millions of Christian
Greeks and Armenians in Asia Minor.
Greece was given a mandate over
Asia Minor by the supreme council
of the allies, at Versailles. The
United States, as well as England
and France, is held by the Greeks 20
be responsible for the catastrophe
in Asia Minor which grew out of
that mandate.
Upon the entry of Greece into the
war these countries promised to
finance Greece with loans Of $780,
100000 each with which 10 pay for
war supplies. Greece was author
lied to issue paper money based upon
the promised allied loan, the loan
to be paid to Greece six months after
she had presented vouchers for her
expenditures in the war. England
advanced about $30,00O,000 as her
part; President Wilson anticipated
our obligation by advancing $15.000,-
900, but France paid nothing. Greece
her vouchers, as agreed in excess of
| $4S,000.G00 and claims that she is
entitled under our agreement TO the
difference between 100000 and
decreed after the armistice that no
more money should be loaned lex
cept to Liberia) upon any war pied ge.
This is claimed by Greece to be a
breach of faith upon our part.
The result OF the alleged repudi-
alton of our agreement is that the
Greek drachma, normally worth 20
cents, fell to Y cents, and Greece
was unable to iced and supply its
army of 10000 stationed IN Asia
| Minor.
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In 1922 Lord Curzon of England
wrote a secret note to France and
Italy. in which he announced as a
! policy of Great Britain that even
| though the Greeks, under the man
date, should succeed in maintaining
order in Asia Minor against the
| Turks they would not be permitted
| to remain there permanently. This
note came to the knowledge of the
| Greek army. In addition TO the de-
preston of their money and the con-
| sequent inadequacy OF their supplies
| twhile France and Italy were charged
with supplying the Turks. the
| knowledge that all their military
| struggle and their sufferingS were to
come To naught utterly destroyed the
| morale of the Greek army. 4 general
/ strike followed in the army. result
/ ing in rout and flight home TO
! Greece. Then came the Turk ish mas
/ sacre at smyrna Of 10000 Christians
and a stampede Of l.2J0,0O0 out Of
/ Asia Minor into Greece and eastern
| Thrace. with untold starvation and
! death, and woeful burden upon
! Greece to support.
= i Z:
! George II was held responsible by
, the army for this debacle and was
/ forced 10 leave the country. \ revo-
! lutionary committee took over the
! power and hung the royal premier
and many other leaders of the royal
lists. And now at last comes the de-
! InAnd for a republic.
J Followers OF former Premier V4ni-
/ ze;Os desire a plebiscite to decide
| whether there shall be a republic or
! another monarchy. Another party
more radical. headed by Premier
! Papanastasiou, proposes to establish
the republic first and then have a
I plebscite to indorSe fait accompIi
/ In the meanwhile the government is
| administered by a regency Of Coun.
driottS and Premier Papanastasiou
under the revolutionary committee
{ The new constitution is To be mod
eled after that Of France rather than
! that of the United States 1t will
| have a figUrehead president, with a
! premier and ministry responsible tc
/ the assembly,
I The United States at present is no;
maintaining full diplomatic relations
, with Greece. but last week a new
I minister, Irwin b. I4aughlin of Pitts
! burSh- was appointed and confirm
ed He Will be accredited to the new
/ Republic Of Greece.
lCopyright. 1929. by Psul Y. CnIlInsL