The Stratford Evening Post WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER THURSDAY, AUGUST 31, 1910. CONSTANTINE'S FOLLY.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXI, Issue 28, 31 August 1916, Page 4

The Stratford Evening Post WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER THURSDAY, AUGUST 31, 1910. CONSTANTINE'S FOLLY.

Nothing more • regrettable for Greece could possibly have happened than that her King should have become so tied up with Germany that he was even prepared to see the murderous Bulgars overrunning his country rather than give the slightest possible aid to the forces arrayed against the curse of Germanism. That there are patriots still in Greece is made clear by M. Venezelos' speech, in which he boldly attacks Constantino's unrighteous attitude. Popular as Constar,ine has hitherto been with the people, it is pretty evident that he cannot much longer prevent a groat upheaval in favour of the Entente, and the results to himself may be more than unpleasant. The Zaimis Government only holds office by favor of the King and as a temporary stop-gap Only one member has a seat in the present Parliament, and he is one ol the few members who sits as an independent. The giving away of Greek forts, munitions of war and stores by withdrawal and abandonment al Bulgar demand, seems so amazing that no Government could possibly excuse itself, and the Greek people, a democratic race, are beginning to feel that those in authority have schemed against their own country at the bidding of Germany. It is undoubtedly a fact that the (Jreek people have been and are yet looking forward to the opportunity of extending their own Government and there is every reason to believe that at the elections fixed for early in December, M. Venizelos would have been returned by an overwhelming majority. They are not likely to submit much longer to the trickery that is being practised on them. It has been repeatedly affirm--1 ib-it all Greece's real interests and !.-;!':■ My her people's sympathies, must !",. wilh the Entente Powers, to which f ,-. is tied by traditions of friend-

! lii. This friendship was builfc in .li-'Cw. when England, Franco and Kus--:i gained for Greece tier freedom, and Leonine onee for all her "Three Protecting Powers." Tt was the three Powers who offered the throne at Greece, first in LB3O to Prince Leopold of Suxe Cobnrg, then in 1832 to Prince Otlio of "Pas-aria., and it was by a treaty between them and the King of Denmark that King Constantino's father received the throne in 1863. Xor lias this protection been limited to isolated acts of king-making. -More ;li:m> oree dnrrn-v the roiin of Otho Enplane! used, nil her influence on the

side of freedom, and "Costitutionl Square," which faces t!ie [loyal palace! in the cculro of Alliens, records the bloodless Itevolutioii of September, 1843, when Lord Aberdeen and Sir E. Lyons gained for Greece her first Constitution. When Otho fell in 1802, and the plebiscite of the Greek people voted, by 230,000. for our Duke of Edinburgh, as their next King, as against -0')') for any other candidate, it was the English Government, embarrassed by its popularity, that found a substitute from the House of Denmark. The gift of the lonian Islands to Greece consoled her for her failure to obtain an English king. It was as a Constitutional king that George of Denmark ascended the throne, and the Constitution of 18(54, though drawn up in detail by the Greek people themselves, was modelled on that of Great Britain, and was intended to carry out the ex--1 pressed intentions of the Protecting Powers. The Greeks as a race do not love the Teuton, and the frightful exposure of how Germany treats' all r neoplcs unfortunate enough to fall into her power ought to be enough to cause a revolution in Greece if Constantino does not drop his pro-Ger-man folly. Germany at least knows the game is up so far as making a further tool of Greece is concerned.