The Stratford Evening Post WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 1916. THE ATTITUDE OF CONSTANTINE

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXI, Issue 93, 16 November 1916, Page 4

The Stratford Evening Post WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 1916. THE ATTITUDE OF CONSTANTINE

The long-suffering patience of the Entente in dealing with King Constantine in view of the many revelations of treachery which have been brought to light, is really surprising. Pos-, sibly it can only be accounted for by the fact that the Allies are using every moans to prevent the country being torn by civil war between tho Nation 0 n.u Royalist parties, and the great desire that in the final washing-up of Balkan affairs at tho close of the war Greece may be left intact with all her best interests fully maintained. The evil spell of German influence is still working havoc in the country, and despite tho statement that Constantine appears to be willing to arrive at an amicable agreement with the Allies, the fact that ho stubbornly resists any effort at reconciliation with the Venezelists leaves matters in much the same hopeless ami chaotic condition. “Has any

nation over played a more ignoininons role than Greece lias done in this the greatest crisis of European history ” asks the London Daily Chronicle. “A country dear to all the civilised world from its great name and glorious traditions, a country whoso enchantment casts a spell over every cultivated mind, has been reduced-to a position of unparalleled humiliation. Despite the fact that Greece owes its existence as a modern State to Russia, France and England, its policy from the beginning of the war lias subserved the interests of Germany. No blame is to be attached to the King for his desire to keep bis country out of the war. That fnay have been a high-minded and patriotic resolve. What cannot he justified is the attitude which he and liis Ministers have thought it proper to pursue, towards the Allies in the past eighteen months for that attitude is very difficult to reconcile with genuine solicitude for Greek interests, li honor counts for nothing and solemn engagements can he treated as mere scraps of paper, ii may he pleaded that Greece's refusal to I’nlfiT her trinity obligations to her ally Serbia, when .Bulgaria entered the war in the autumn of 1916, was dictated by considerations of enlightened self-interest. Reace was certainly thereby preserved, though not peace with honor. But one is puzzled to find'any rational explanation from the Greek standpoint of the strange chapter of events that followed the invitation to the Entente Rowers to land armed forces at Salo-

nika. Was it concern for Greece that prompted a lino of action which hindered and hampered the Anglo-French forces at every turn ; that disregarded the principles of constitutional government; that allowed Monastic, in spite of Berlin assurances, to be occupied by a Tcuto-Bulgar force; that tamely surrendered the powerful border fortresses of Rupel to the enemy; that permitted the Bulgarians, again in violation of German pledges, to take possession of Seres, Drama and Kavalla; that permitted thousands of

Greek soldiers to be transported to 1 Germany like so many driven cattle,j and flung open the gates of Greece to ( its hereditary enemy? - Can any ex-, planation reconcile this miserable sequence of events with the promotion of the true interests of Greece? Is not the explanation rather to bcj found in the pro-German sympathies of the Athens Court? ft certainly looks as if the orientation of Constantine’s policy ever since the war began has been determined by his jebcf iii the invincibility of German arms. No other key fits the lock.” But today surely, even if this is the solution regarding Constantine’s attitude, bo must know that German arms cannot achieve one of the real objects vith which the war was started, ana that utter defeat must ere long come to those who have so misled him. If ho desires to retain his throne sclf-mici-est alone, if no higher motive, should awaken him to the great danger of the crooked course he is now pursuing.