Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-08-29

which Is saying a great deal. His
military record is not without bril-
liancy; the reorganization of the
Greek army after the Anatolian
debacle, notable achievement, was
mostly his doing; but he appears to
be almost completely lacking in talent
for civil affairs and to be devoid of
common sense, tact and humOr. The
pessimists. however. are by no means
sure that Greece Is likely to benefit
by the change of leadership, and, in
deed, the record and personality of
Gen. Kondylis are not Of sort to
evoke enthusiasm in the we'll wisher
for Greece. His reputation Is that of
in the Mussolini style.
He is the instrument of the army
and navy. as appears in his mani
festo to the Greek people. 1.-THE cOun-
try's armed forces" says he. have
abolished the Pangalos tyranny and
have intrusted 20 me the government
of the country in order to assure re-
establishment of the liberties of the
people and to apply the program con-
tanned in the army and navy mani
festo." The which program is as
follows: ITO reinforce the national
forces: to establish a healthy national
currency, with strict application of
the fiscal laws; to free the people from
unbearable taxes on articles of primary
necessity; to establish popular liberty:
to intrust the presidency of the re-
public to Admiral KOuntouriotiS and
to proceed within eight months at the
latest to free elections in order to
confide the power to the chosen rep
resentatives Of the people, A fair
enough program. to be sure. except
that interests of the armed forces
are given precedence over all other
considerations: and conceivably it
voices genuine solicitude of the armed
forces for popular liberty and restOra-
ton of constitutional government.
Put very serious doubt on that head
is permissible. One of the chief de
siderata for Greece Is that the armed
forces should cease to exercise that
preponderating influence over civil
administration which they have eX-
ercised since the affair of Gouda In
1909.
On the other hand. those who fear
that the success of the coup merely
means substitution of one dictator for
another should be reminded that in
July. 1924, Gen. kondylis had an OPP.
portunity (Which almost every one
expected him to seize) to make him
self dictator. but rejected 1t with an
emphatic declaration that he had no
dictatorial aims. And there is this
element of reinsurance in the situa'
ton. The Greek people appear to
have been shocked out Of their
apathy of recent years and to be de-
manding a constitutional restoration.
They are probably the most genuinely
democratic people in Europe. The
most competent observers are con
WINGED that they will not stomach
dictatorship for long, nor indefinitely
indure domination by the armed
forces.
Gen. Kondylis has formed cabi-
net with himself as premier. minister
of war and minister Of marine. 1t
seems probable that Gen. Pangalos.
who is now imprisoned in a Cretan
fortress, will be tried by special
court on Sundry counts. 1t will be
recalled how, in 1923. when COM
mander in chief of the army. he pro-
cured, by pressure on the revolu-
tionary committee, the judicial MUIR
der Of five Constantinian ministers
and one Constantinian general. 1t Is
to be hoped that he will find in the
court a clemency Ire has denied to
others.
Apropos Of the general situation in
Greece, Charles p. Rowland. the
American chairman Of the Greek ref
ugee settlement commission. sagelX
observes that political restlessness
in Greece bears less directly on the
economic situation than in almost any
other country" I believe that this
latest kaleidoscope change in the po-
litical scene holds good promise OF
better things for Greece. q,
u 4 Xxx
United States of America.-Charles
Eliot. president emeritus of Harvard
University and for so many years
the active head thereof, is dead at 80.
1t is beyond doubt that he did more
than any other man has done for
higher education in the United States,
in respect Of the profess
sional schools. He was generally es-
teemed our most distinguished pri-
vate citizen. and was. indeed. a great
man.
Stuart p. Sherman. the editor and
literary critic. is dead at Al. He is
generally considered. and perhaps
the most competent of Amer
lean literary critics since Lowell.
Comdr. John Rodgers, famous for
the resourcefulnes and gallantry he
displayed In his attempt of last year
TO fly from San Fra ncisco to the Ha-
waiian Islands, died on Friday as the
result Of injuries received in airplane
accideQt near Philadelphia. A mag
niacsi >man.