NO PENSION FOR CONSTANTINE

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 171, 9 April 1918, Page 5

NO PENSION FOR CONSTANTINE

BILL WITHDRAWN IN GREEK CHAMBER EX-KING'S LIFE IN SWITZERLAND London, April 7. The ''Morning Post" correspondent at Athens states that owing to the hostility in the Chamber M. Venizelos was forced to withdraw a Bill providing for ex-King Constantino's pension. M. Yenizclos, amid cheers, said he had submitted the Bill because the Powers which dethroned Constantino had promised him £20,000 a year. The Government considered such an obligation null and void, in view of Constantine's refusing to formally abdicate and of his continuing to plot against tho present rogirae. A recent court-martial had proved his intrigues.—Aus.-N.Z. Cahle Assn. A CAY EXILE An interesting account appeared in a recent issue of the "Journal des Hellenes" of the sort of existence that is being led by ox-King Constantino of Greece. The writer says:— Tho life of the ex-King at Zurioh is essentially different from that of the fallen monarchs whom Daudet dopicta in his famous novel "Les rois.en exil." In the beautiful villa which he rente from a Prussian, Constantino Christian, formerly King of the Hellenes, now merely n Danish Prince or an ordinary Greek oitizen, leads the oxistenco of a parvenu. Tho "Journal de Geneve" recently stated that Constantino is at the present moment the only man, with tho exception of tho Oil King, who ie always going about in a motor-car regardless of the high price of petrol. The real truth is that Constantino does not go about in one motor-car but in fourteen. Such, in fact, is tho number of motor-cars which the King possesses for the use of himself and his suite. When ho goes to the theatre, which is very often, the fourtoen motor-cars wait outside the theatre in line until the end of tho performance. For this thore is no reason whatever unless it is to arouse the admiration of the peaceful citizens of Zurich. Formerly tvo were acquainted in Greece with a King Constantino and a Queen Sophia who were very economical, perhaps too much so. Nevertheless they had at that time a Civil List exceeding two millions (£30,000) a year. Money From the Kaiser. The fallen Sovereigns now receive onlv half a million (£20,000) a year, and they live far moro expensively than they did formerly. How is it done? The explanation is very simple: the fallen Sovereigns are supported out of tho Kaiser's privy purse. A Zurich bank has opened in tho namo oE the Kaiser and for the benefit of Constantine a credit of two millions. That is the value the Kaiser puts upon the services rendered to Germany by Constantine at the time ho was King of tho Hellenes. The money enables Constantino to spend freely. While Sophia entertains at their villa all notable German visitors to Zurich, officials and others, Constautine enjoys himself. Lo roi s'amuse. Dragging about with him tho suite who aro in his pay, ho novor misses a theatrical performance or a show of any kind. There is no gathering which ho dries not honour with his presence. Every Jtl'tenioon, surrounded by men and women at a rather mixed gathering, he presides at the 5 o'clock tea-table of the Hotel Bauer an Due. It is he who pays for everything. Ho is the Nabob. "That is why the number of his friends increases daily. A certain number of adventurers, Greeks only in name, knock daily at his door and proclaim loudly their loyalty with a view to obtaining a share of the Kaiser's money. Constantino is 'ery

generous. To workmen he gives letters of recommendation to German factories and warehouses. All thosewho pride themselves on being able to writs decently ho makes secretaries to His Majesty. These secretaries, vho in reality never put pen to paper, ean now ho counted by the dozen. Constantino recently forwarded 20,000 francs to a. committee which was formed in Zurich to get up a. subscription in aid of the Jews of Salonika who wore sufferers by the fire. The president of this committee- is a Bulgarian Jew, well known for his hatred of Greece and all the articles' which ho writes periodically against that country. These are facts which it is well to make known to those who still believe iu the love of the fallen King for tho Greek people. Very frequently, too, different personages'from Germany, who aro no other than officers of the German Military Staff, visit Constantino at his villa.' "What takes place at these meetings? ]t is not difficult to guess, especially when onn recalls that tho "Journal de Geneve," which is always well informed, recently announced that Germany was going to undertake a great offensive on the Salonika front to drive Hit the AngloFrench army and re-establish Oonstantine nn tho Throne. Constantino has also had interviews in Switzerland with the ex-Chancellor. Von Bulow and with . the Chief of tho German nropaganda in Switzerland, Prince von Hohenlohe. Moreover, ho has mot at, Zurich tho ox-Khedive of I>vpt, well known for his connection with the 8010 Pasha scandal.