CONSTANTINE'S ASSURANCES TO THE ALLIES

DEEPLY HURT AT SUSPICIONS. MUST KEEP GREECE CLEAR OF DISASTER. .NO BREACH OF THE SERBIAN TREATY. (By Cable.—Press Association.—Copyright.) ATHENS, December 7. In an audience he gave to the correspondent of the London "Times,'' King Constantine said:—"l am .deeply grieved and hurt at the suspicions as to my intentions and sentiments. I always preferred Britain to other countries, and have spent my holidays there, but Britain has forgotten that I am King of Greece, and my first duty is to keep Greece clear of the disaster. The pitiable condition of Belgium is always before my eyes. I will only consent to war if the existence of Greece is threatened, or the certainty of victory is so great that the rewards justify the sacrifice." King Constantine added that he had given the most solemn assurances that Greece would never cherish designs against the Allies. It was an insult to think Greece or her King capable of treachery. MIGHT HAVE BECOME A SECOND BELGIUM. King Constantine, referring to the Dardanelles campaign, said:—"The attack was a gamble which might or might not succeed, but Greece was . unable to run such risks. Nor was the Allies' Balkan policy very definite. If Greece had joined and the Allies had decided to retire, Greece would have become a second Belgium. The friendly feelings of Greece were sufficiently demonstrated when she placed her railways and telegraphs at the disposal of the forces at Salonika. Perhaps she overstepped her neutrality." King Constantine then asked sharply if the Allies' confidence in Bulgaria had been justified, and suggested that Greece was now the victim of vexation at unsuccessful policy elsewhere. The Graeco-Serbian treaty dealt with the Balkans only, and came into force if Bulgaria alone attacked Greece or Serbia. He emphatically denied the rumoured treaty between Greece and Bulgaria. The latter was the hereditary enemy of Greece. ALLIES' INDEFINITE PROGRAMME. Continuing, he said: —"The present situation can be summed up in a few words. The allied Powers have made certain demands regarding the Greek forces in Macedonia. We replied, giving the most solemn assurances that nothing detrimental to the Allies need be feared from Greece, but before we bind ourselves irrevocably to the programme we are desirous of knowing •what the programme of the Allies is. We have been told by Britain that the ' Allies are deliberating, and that no fixed programme has yet been decided on. Can Greece in justice be invited to remove troops to other districts "while the Allies are still undecided whether they will occupy or evacuate the region, though whatever the Allies' plans may be Greece will not abandon •neutrality." King Constantine concluded by expressing gratitude for the visits of Earl Kitchener and M. Denys Cochin, and reasserting that the suspicions legarding his political views and aims were unjustified and cruel.