THE GREEK TRAGEDY

Evening Star, Issue 18138, 30 November 1922, Page 6

THE GREEK TRAGEDY

GOVERNMENT'S CLAIM. BRITISH MINISTER’S APPEAL PAILS. Pnn Association— ®y Telegraph—Copyright. ATHENS. November 28. The Hon. F. O. Bindley, British Minister at Athens, continued to the last his efforts to secure clemency. Without waiting for tho official notification of the formation of tho new military Cabinet, ’ho twice visited the Foreign Ministry, but without avail. Finally in tho middle of the night he saw Colonel Plasty rate, leader of the revolution, but he failed hero also. It is understood that the Greek Government claims that as a state of siege was proclaimed all individual liberties were suspended, and the court martial had full power to do as it liked, ihe Government claims that tho dead Ministers were fully responsible -for tho national catastrophe. When they came into power they dismissed every general of not© who happened to be anti-Hoyalist, and appointed Const an tinists whatever their military cxpeii ence. —A. and N.Z. Cable. November 29. (Received) November 50, at 9 a.m.) The Hon. F. 0. Bindley has gone to Lausanne to see Lord C-urzon. A. and N.Z. Cable. PRINCE ANDREW TO BE TRIED. ATHENS, November 29. Prince Andrew, who has been arrested, will shortly be tried for his life. . He is married to Princess Alice of Battenberg. —A. and N.Z. Cable. [The Princess Alice is a grand-daughter of Princess Alice, Queen Victoria’s second daughter, and is the daughter of the late Admiral of the Fleet, the Marquess of Milford Haven (formerly Prince Louis of Battenberg. Prince Andrew is ox-King Constantine’s brother.]

FEELING AT LAUSANNE. VENIZELOS RETICENT. LAUSANNE, November 29. The news of the executions, at Athens created a sensation at the conference, and caused intense resentment, seriously prejudicing the Greeks’ cause. M. Ver.azelos, when asked forbi&epuuou when the death sentences wore announced, said; ‘‘l have retired from internal Greek politics, and therefore am unable to give any expression of opinion on tire question. There are rumors that M. Yeimclos is considering his resignation as head of the Greek delegation at Lausanne.—A. and N.Z. Cable. BSO.TSH GOVERNMENT’S VIEW. LONDON, November 28. The British Government takes the gravest possible view of the execution of the Greek cx-Ministers. Representations amoutinff almost to a throat to suspend diplomatic relations were made. The ‘ Daily Express ’ states : “ The execution of the ex-Ministers is an outrage upon civilised humanity, which is only paralleled by the murder of Alexander of Serbia. To execute politicians because their policy was a nusbjcu one is to revert to savagery. We hope the British Government will sever all diplomatic relations with Greece. _ History will applaud (■lie decision of civilisation to ostracise the debased descendants of Pericles and Aristides. The sinister influence of M. Venizelos should never be allowed to return to Great Britain. The fnonds of the Greeks will not be emit© so disposed to listen to the tales of Turkish atrocities in future.” —A. and N.Z. Cable. COMMENT IN AMERICA. NEW YORK, November 29. Press comment on the execution of the Greek cx-Ministers condemns the barbarity of the act and declares that the Revolutionary Government of Greece cannot hope to gain support abroad or national stability on a programme of blood. The American Charge d’Affaires at Athens has cabled to the Stale Department that he had protested vigorously against the executions. Popular feeling is greatly shocked at the brutality displayed.—A. and N.Z. Cable.

It was at the end of August 7 last year that the Greeks in Asia Minor made their driva to Angora. They were checked at the battle of the Sakaria River, and retreated to the line at Afiun Karahissar, which they had previously held. Here in August last the Kfanalista attacked in force, drove a wedge into tho Greek army, and sent both sections flying to Brusa, and Smyrna. The Greeks hurriedly evacuated Asia 'Minor. The ©vents, sine© then will bo ircah in the memory of most people. General Papoulas, commanding tho Greek forces on tho Asia Minor front, resigned from Ida .post on May 25, on Itho ground that ho had reached the age limit. King Constantine gave the general the highest decoration of tho kingdom, and the Hellenic National Assembly voted a special life pension for the man under whoso command the Greek army won its greatest victories in Asia Minor. General Hadjanestis was appointed to succeed General Papoulas. Tho new Generalissimo, having visited -the front along its entire length, submitted his report, to the Government on June 28, advising continuation of the war. On tiro following day a. groat council was held iu tho Summer Palace at Tatoi, near Otheni, under the presidency of King Constantine. Those who took part included Premier Protopapadakis, M. Gounaris (the leader of the parliamentary majority), M. States (tho Minister of the Interior), M. Baltadjis Minister of Foreign Affairs), M. A. Sterghiades (Greek High Commissioner at Smyrna), and M. Triantafylk-kos (Greek High Commissioner in Constantinople). Following a lengthy discussion of all the issues connected ’directly or indirectly with tho war, it was decided that the Greek army would not evacuate Asia. Minor, and that every effort would ho made to force .a decision on tho Near Eastern question. The Greek naval forces in (he Black Sea on Juno 10 bombarded the Turkish fortified cities of Sanisun and Trebizond by way of reprisal for the massacres of the Christian population of those cities by Mustapha Kemal’s Turks. King Constantino, with tho members of the Cabinet and a delegation of tho National Assembly, visited the Island of Choi on Juno 19, where he took part, in the. celebration of file one hundredth anniversary of the burning of tho Turkish armada -by the national hero, Constantino Kanaris. Tho Royal party also visited Psara, the scene of a terrible massacre of the Greeks by the Turks during the groat, ■revolution of 1821.

[Of those mentioned above General Hadjanestis, MM. Protopapadakis, Gounaris, titrates, and Baltadjis were executed.]