KING CONSTANTINE

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2623, 19 November 1915, Page 5

KING CONSTANTINE

WHY HE HESITATES

(By Lovat Frascr, in the "Daily Mail.")

The position in Greco is obscure. Tho published reports present it as a conflict between the personal views of 51. Venizelos and of King Constantino. We may bo reasonably suro that thero arc at least four other factors at' work.

Thoy are, first, the feeling of the higher officers of the Greek Anny and Navy; second, tho hostility of tho political rivals of M. Venizelos; third, the populace; and fourth, tho German Emperor, whose sister is the Queen of Greece.

li> is necessary to consider quito dispassionately the peculiar position of King Constantino. It may be doubted whether lie cherishes tho least personal hostility to this country or to Russia or France. The probable explanation of • Hhe King's attitude is that he has friends and relations in both camps, and that- lie is seated on a somewhat slippery throne. It must bo remembered that the King of Greece was not very popular with his subjects when he ■ was Crown Prince. He was blamed, and quite unfairly blamed,, for the defeat) of Grecce in the Turco-Greck War of ISD7. The real cause of that defeat was that the Greeks plunged rashly into a war for which they wore totally unprepared. They thought otherwise, aiifl sought a scapegoat. The Crown Prince became the object of public wrath. For fifteen years, xintil lie- led his victorious troops into his military reputation suffered cclipse. Tlio Queen will probably never forget how she, the daughter of ail Empc-ror, was afterwards hooted and even stoned in the streets of Volo. The Athenian Way. These feelings long played a prominent pari, in Greek politics". The Greek people have often treated t'heir Royal Family with scant consideration. A few years ago I was seated smoking a reflective morning pipe on tho wall of the Parthenon, when I saw a mob sweap into the open space in front of the palace. 'The people rushed'into .the grounds. Their shouts and exeoratious floated upwards. I picked up my field-glasses and prepared to watch .the interesting spectacle of a modern revolution in full blast. Nothing whatever happened. It was simply the Athenian wav.

Six years ago the feeling in the Greek Army and Navy against the Princes of the _ Royal Family came - to head. Tho agitation was not directed against tho late King George, but against the present King Constantino and his brothers, who were held to have neglected. their duties, and a-Jso against) the numerous politicians who wero alleged to be starving the forces. A League was formed, and for a time it controlled the country. The Bian who rescued Gresce from these unhappy troubles was M. Venizelos. He was summoned from Crete, and soon proved himself the ablest statesman in the B,alkalis. Hie Military League, which had become excessively dictatorial and oppressive, was by tacit consent allowed to lapse. The Amy and Navy were greatly strengthened and improved. M. Venizelos became the real creator of Balkan unity, so soon to break asunder.

His mott-o was. "The Balkans for the Balkan peoples." He originated the Balkan. League, under which Greek troops joined their neighbours in marching to victory over the Turk. Tho defeat of 1897 was avenged. The world saw that Greeks could fight with valour, indeed, they had done under most aaverse conditions fifteen vears before. The Crown Prince found himself a. popular idol, and when he ascended tho throne after bis father was assassinated at Salonika in March, 1913. he diad no reason to complain of the 'Warmth- of his reception. • These facts are recited because clearly they have 6ome bearing upon recent developments. Twice this year King Constantino has brought about the resignation of M. Vcnizolos. He must be conscious of - warm support somewhere within his kingdom. Does he receive it from the Army? The Greek troops hare been trained by French officers; the Greek artillery is oi French construction. Oil tho other hand, many of the Greek staff officers, •as ell as tho King himself, received their military training in Germany. It must bo assumed that King Constanr that to-day the leaders of the Army with with him. Ths Kaiser Behind tho Scenos. Tho King|s relations with M. Venizelos are believed to have always been marked by a certain constraint, the kind of constraint which a monarch not too sure of his own position would be likely to feel towards a powerful and extremely ablo democratic statesman who is beloveu by the populace, fet there has been no open rupture, and M. Veni- . zelos is far too patriotic a Greek to 'precipitate a rupture. His instincts are constitutional.

And the populace? I fancy no foreigner can attempt to analyse, the somevariable and perhaps capricious emotions of the Greek populace. AVp can only turn to facts. M. Venizelos was recalled to power by a majority. He had a majority for his policv in the Chamber this week. His political opponents are powerful and vigorous, but they_ show 110 manifest disposition to acquiesce in German embraces, and most certainly they have no lovo for Bulgaria. ,

Tt is probable that the domestio struggle in Greece is really over the choice of two paths. One path, which has as its signposts treaty obligations mo character of which are in dispute, leads to the support of Serbia and the Segjnning of hostilities against Bulgaria in conjunction with the forces of tho Entente Powers. Tho other path leads towards the continuance of an extremely precarious neutrality.

The dominating motive of King Constantino—and it. is perfectly understandable—is doubtless reluctance to draw the sword against his wife's brother. He knows, moreover, that the Greek nation as a wholo is by no menus so United as a nation considering a .pIUD26 into shoitfd lio. Thfi exist— pig difference* am revealed by the debate in the Chamber.

And far away, at, the owl of a. telegraph wire, sits the Kaiser, the mcst, skilled concocter of telegrams in all Europe- Vet King Constantino has little for which to thank tlm Kaiser, who opposed most bitterly the marriage with his sister. For years, whilo Wny were Crown Prince and Princess, the Kaiser treated them with scorn and contempt. Only after Kino; Constantino bad been crowned and after the transformations of the Balkan War made it desirable to oaioln Greece did he relent, towards tho relatives he liad long sought to humble.

I should say the final explanation of this week's news from Greron is that there are a great many Greeks who would rather keep out of the war. The King -shares their desirc-s. and together they dominate the situatiV.il for the. moment. The ease is one for regret, hut not for criticism, and 1 doubt whether Greeco can keep out of tho war for very leng.