THE END OF CONSTANTINE

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3110, 14 June 1917, Page 4

THE END OF CONSTANTINE

The abdication of Ring Constantine means tho removal of _ a dangerous schemer against the interests of the Entente Powers and a big step forward towards Urn ending of the troubles in Greece which have hampered the Allied plans in Macedonia ' and the Balkans generally. Constantine has proved himself a hypocrite and a willing tool of tho Kaiser. Professing friendly feelings towards Britain and France, he gathered round his Court a powerful group of German officials and spies, who have consistently created difficulties and fomented trouble for tho Allied Commanders. Constantine, in answer to representations from the Entente Powers, has twisted, wriggled, and evaded until he created an intolerable situation. Now, having played ' tho game of tho Kaisee as long as possible, lie. has abdicated, and his second son has taken his place as King of Grccc. So the news runs. Presumably, this represents some form of compromise. Constantine probably wanted his eldest son to succeed him, whereas it is not unlikely that the Allies, at the instigation of M. Venizelos and his supporters, preferred the younger member ot the family. In any case wo may expect that the change will not be considered complete unless Constantine, his German wife, and the German gang attached to tho old Court arc removed from Greece and prevented from interfering with the new ruler. The Allies plainly have made up their minds that halfmeasures with Greece arc useless. They have now taken steps which, while guaranteeing the safety ant! security of the Greek people so long as they conduct themselves reasonably and rationally, will remove any chance of treachery against the Allied -forces operating in the Balkans. It was quite time. The campaign in the Balkans has hung fire month after month to the detriment of the prestige of tho Allies and at a heavv financial cost. Tho expocted spring offensive has fallen flat owing to the situation in Greece, and the time when operations can be most successfully conducted iu this region is passing. With the abdication of Constantine there is every reason to hope for better things.