The Daily News. SATURDAY, JUNE 16, 1917. SETTLING THE GREEK PROBLEM.

Taranaki Daily News, 16 June 1917, Page 4

The Daily News. SATURDAY, JUNE 16, 1917. SETTLING THE GREEK PROBLEM.

Now that the long period of Constantino's treacherous intrigues and duplicity has been ended, those who have closely or even carelessly followed events in Greece are naturally asking why the necessary pressure was not exercised long ago to get rid of a dangerous monarch who was so palpably responsive to the touch of the German strings. British patience and forebearance have always been far greater than serious circumstances have justified. It is one of those traditions whidh have become almost a sacred obligation, and Constantine has abused the leniency to the utmost of his ability. At last, however, his career has suddenly ended as a monarch, and the Allies will be well advised to clear out the whole of his dupes and puppets. There should be a general feeling of relief it the deposition of this double faced traitor whose betrayals have cast over Greece a disgrace that will be hard to live down. Far better and wiser would it have been to have purged Greece of Constantinc's evil presence when he .betrayed Serbia, but he has been allowed to pursue his machinations against the Allies until, apparently, it became an imperative necessity to force him to abdicate. It is now quite clear that General Sarrail's forces have been simply compelled to mark time in order to meeet a very probable act of treachery by the Royal forces of' Constantine Much speculation is aroused over the successor to Constantine being his second son, hut though it might seem a sign of weakness to permit any of the family to succeed to the throne, there may be good reasons why Prince Alexander should havo 'been chosen King just as there are conclusive reasons why the Crown Prince should ha excluded from power. There was nothing to gain by bringing about a revolution at this critical stage of the war, hut much to hope for by adopting a course that would satisfy the Greeks and ensure a regime that would be of assistance to the Allies. A break in the continuity of national affairs is always risky, and as there are good reasons for belief that Prince Alexander would not have been acceptable to the Allies unless they were assured of his good faith, it may be assumed that by V« becoming th» tuccep-'

sor to Constantino both the Greeks and the Allies are content According to the pables tho determining factor -in the selection ..of Prince Alexander was that he was less under tin: influence of Germany than his elder brother, also the possibility of hj s acceptability to M. Venizclos, who, it may reasonably bo supposed, will now Jiavo the chance of rehabilitating Greek friendship with the Allies. He is tho one strong man of the country in peace and in war, and it was the recognition of this fact, as exemplified in his proved popularity at the polls, that operated on Constantino in dismissing Venizelos from office. Whether tho hand that pulled the strings was that of his Hohonzollern wife or not is immaterial. Constantino .was a willing and unscrupulous tool of Germany and as such brought his country to the verge of ruin and disaster, through a veritable morass of treachery and chaos. The way is now clear for a forward move as soon as matters settle down. As leader of the pro-Ally Greeks. Venizelos has been for some time clothed with the power of a dictator but he has wisely used that power for preserving order and keeping a check on any treacherous movement of the , Royal troops. There are few who thought that the Ozar would he dethroned before Constantine, but such was the irony of fate. Greece is well rid of suoh an unstable King, and it should not be long before an important move i 8 made b.V General Sarrail that will be of great advantage to the Allies' cause. The landing of troops at Thessaly to protect the crops is the first step towards the inauguration of a new era that hag illimitable possibilities. The removal of the dangerous weakling schemer from Greece is a profound relief that will be naterially enhanced when ,we hear of a wholesale clearance of the whole of, the pro-German gang.