The Hawera Star THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 1935 GREEK MONARCHY.

Hawera Star, Volume LIV, 7 November 1935, Page 4

The Hawera Star

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 1935 GREEK MONARCHY.

'Jelivereil every evening by 6 o clook in Hawera, Manaia, Kaupokonui, Otakeho. Oeo. Fihama, Opunake. Eltham, Ngaere.Mangatoki. Kaponga, Awatuna. Te Kiri, Mahoe, Lowgarth, Manntahi, Kakaramea, Alton. Hurleyville, Patea, Wbenuakur'a, Waverley, Mokoia. Whakamara, Ohangai. Meremere. Eraser Road and Ararata

Greece has decided that she wants the restoration of the monarchy and in consequence a delegation has gone to London to invite the exiled king to return to the throne. The population of the country—or the royalist section of it—is reported to be overjoyed at the prospect of once more having its monarch on the throne and the people have been demonstrating their pleasure and loyalty by street celebrations. On the face of things the stage appears to be set in Greece for a triumphal return of the monarchy and the resumption of a peaceful reign, with everything as it should be in the last chapter of a book dealing with a stormy period in the national life of the country. However, it is not at all certain that the ex-king will find his situation comparable to a bed of roses. In the first place, it has to be remembered that there were very special circumstances attendant upon the plebiscite majority in favour of the restoration of the monarchy. The monarchist party, following the precedent set by other promoters of plebiscites in Europe, took steps to ensure that the opposition would not be overwhelming. Most of the Republican leaders were arrested and banished, legislation was adopted making criticism of the Royalist regime illegal, and the army and the police were used to see that Republican partisans did nothing to mar the displays of spontaneous affection of the populace for the Royalist cause. The ex-king has no wish to return to an unwilling people. He stipulated that there should be a fairly-conducted plebiscite, ceded by a truce between the Royalist and Repiiblican factions, and reserved to himself the light to decide whether the restoration vote was sufficient to warrant his return. The ex-king has shown discretion in refusing to enter into intrigue for the restoration of the throne or in encouraging any coercive measures. To-day s cables contain reference to a manifesto from the ex-king in which he declares his willingness to “forget the past,” which may be read as an indication of his willingness to return. The circumstances that have surrounded the restoration movement do not, however, carry any guarantee that the troubles of the monarchy of Greece have been settled for all time.