KING CONSTANTINE

Marlborough Express, Volume L, Issue 2, 4 January 1916, Page 4

KING CONSTANTINE

SOLDIER AND MAN OF HONOR*

AN INTERESTING INTERVIEW.

((Received Jam. 4. 1.50 a.m.) At r LONDON, Jan. 3. , Mr Martin Donohoe, at.Athens, in- • terviewed King Constantino,* end va» - ! authorised to convey the following i message to Britain:—".Actuated by genuine and most sincere friendshipto the Sovereign and people of Great Britain: I send the warmest New Years greetings., I fervently hope*' that this calamitous world-war will' terminate before the dawn of the suoi ceeding year." | Mr Donohoe was received in a study the artistic utilitarian furnishings of' which showed that it was the den of . a hardworking monarch and not a mere puppet. King Constantino wasin simple undress uniform. His recent illness has not dimmed his viri!e> energy, while in the manner of liis country he is urbgne. He expressed" himself with honest candor and emphasis. _ Mr Donohoe soon perceived' that King Constantine's methods wore those of a soldier and not & diplomat.

"As a soldier," said King Constantine, "E always prefer dealing with soldiers. That is why I was delight-

:od to see Lord Kitchener and .General •Castelnau. There is a bond of camaraderie and .quick intuition whicl&'* unites every soldier.'' He continued: "I .see I am still misunderstood in England. I do not* > mind; being attacked, but insist <m fair play. lam frequently called the^.*' Kaiser's brother-in-law, but critics^ forget 'something', which I never JFor- L get: that I am. cousin to- King ■ George. Thero is a. cloud of xinjusfc suspicion gathered .oh my name. I ' do not _ mind how much my politic* ;iiv> criticised po long as I ar>i ,adinitto<t still--to be n, gentleman and a man of

tonor.' N The English press is very Imsy with propaganda. I want to dissipate these suspicions, which areworthless and groundless. Why should my word be doubted? It has been pledged to benevolent neutrality. That will always hold good. t am pleased that certain of your Members of Parliament of both parties loyally believe in me, not questioning the sincerity of my promise. "The fierce light that still beats upon a throne is concentrated twentyfold on my actions. .It is not a neutral light 'either, but my opinions and pledges have not been modified, because I am-a man of honor. I want to get this firmly into the heads of London editors and the minds of English people. It is said that Greece; after final victory, which the Allies regard as already theirs, will be sent to Coventry, forfeiting thefriendship of the Entente. I cannot lielp that. It is my duty to be neutral. Ido not desire to join either belligerent. I am convinced that it is in the best interest of Greece to •stand aloof. Speaking dispassionately I cannot see any military result achieved iip to to-day to justify the Entente's belief in a final crushing victory. I frankly say as.,_a soldier that I would view with positive alarm the prospect of attacking Germany, not because of my relationship to the Kaiser, hut simply because Germany lias proved to be a powerful military nation. I should view with still greater apprehension the prospect of attacking England, knowing that she «ould blow my coast towns about my «ars and put "a speedy end to Greek -commerce." King Constantino is of opinion that the Bulgars will not cross the frontier, but if they did they would depart peacefully after their operations against the Allies. He saw no reaison for the Allies remaining at Salonika., lie could understand it while there Was still a. possibility ot aiding Serbia, but that had; failed. He «iid not expect an offensive by either side in the Balkans. He paid a, triliute to the heroism and tenacity of the iroops at the' Dardanelles, but added that if the Allies had' listened to the counsels of those who understood the difficulties better they would! never have gone there.