Evening star., 1947-04-01
Heart AiIment Is
/. Futul to Ruler
AtAqe Of 56
: By the A.soeiessd Pres.

sASAS, 1APAh 1s-IAAAl6 ICOlS
II died unexpectedly today Of a
heart ailment at a critical period
In his nation's history and his
45-year-old brother, Prince Paul,
was called to the throne.
The 56-year-old King had been
complaining recently Of pain from
angina pectoris, an ailment arising
from d disease of the coronary
arteries. former Premier George
Papandreou said. Mr.. Papandreou
said the monarch died at 1855 pm.
(6:55 am. E.S.T.).
Prince Paul was to take the royal
oath at 1880 pm. It was announced
that the government and Paul later
would issue messages to the people.
The death OF the King came six
months after his return to his
throne from London after q plebi-
scite fayoring the monarchy.
He died at a time when the ex-
plosive Greek question" was being
debated in. Washington and in the
capitals of the world, and when his
country's bloody guerrilla warfare
was being Investigated by a United
Nations commission.
News Spreads Quickly.
Rer6rts Of the Kings death spread
quickly, but the people were suspic-
ious at first because they thought it
might be an April fools joke.
When the report was confirmed by
news on the Athens radio 1t brought
expressions Of profound regret.
Among the first to be notified was
the former premier and the present
foreign minister. Constantin Tsald-
aris, whQrushed to the palace.
Premier Demetrios Maximos and
all political leaders except Napoleon
Zervas, Minister OF Public Order,
who was in the southern Pelopon-
nesus leading q military expedition
against Ragiltist guerriilas. met at
the royal palace in order to observe
the provisions OF the constitution
concerning the succession.
The ministers met with Prince
Paul presiding, who from the mo-
ment OF Georges death became
King q Greece by law.
Barred From Throne in 1917.
= oeorge took over the reins Of
Greece In 1912. When his father,
Constantine, abdicated in 1917,
Georre was barred from the throne
because the Allies feared he had
pro-Gerriian leanings. His brother,
Alexander, became King. Alexan-
der died from the bite of a pet
monkey in 1920, and Constantine re-
turned to the throne.
But Greece again was beset by
hard times and Constantine in 1922,
had to abdicate again. George sue
ceeded him. Soon afterward he
lfaced his first plebiscite, was de-
keated, and went into exile as Greece
became republic. His exile lasted
l3 years.
He was recalled by a plebiscite In
1895 after the Royalists staged a
coup d'etat, and reigned but did not
rule. The dictatorship of John
Metaxas was in power.
The King went into exile again
when Germany invaded his country
in 194I, and he was last recalled by
plebiscite last September. /
Won Election in 1916.
The King returned to Greece in
1916 after the election decided on
continuance Of the monarchy. This
election has been attacked as un-
representative by Russian factions.
but its fairness was upheld by Amer
ican and British delegates who OBJ
served the polling.
In London, Greek leftists said the
death of the King would mean no
Change for the time being" in the
situation in Greece.
There will be no change" q /
Leiast leader said, unless President |
Truman takes this opportunity to
nect change in the regime" The
leauet' who has close connections
wNn tet wing elements inside
Sreece, fealled that both President
Truman and the British Govern /
ment hau acknowledged publicly |
that the present Greek regime was
not perfect.
Inc return y the monarch to his
.nrone aIooeeS opposition which
had never suoAsNed. Greece, its
people hungry ana var-uorn hs
came even more Of \ stor,. a.n..
1Ssr KING GF0RfSS - -