GREECE: Republicans vs. Royalists

A recent attempt at a Royalist revolution by General Metaxas and his followers, which aimed to consolidate the King’s position, plunged Greece into the fiery furnace of political dissension. The situation was so acute that the King was asked to leave the country for 60 days pending the clearing up of the political situation. The King agreed.

The crux of the situation lay in the question: Is Greece to have a Republican constitution? Advised by Britain, Yugo-Slavia and Rumania not to discard the present dynasty on account of its important connections with the Balkan Powers,* Dictator Colonel Gonatas and his Government tried to quiet down the opposition by abolishing the press censorship, promising the abolition of martial law after the trial of those arrested in a recent revolt, appointing Foreign Minister Apostolos Alexandris as delegate on the Reparations Commission. Republican sentiment, however, refused to be appeased so easily and the clamor for a change of régime continued.

Ex-Premier Eleutherios Venizelos, Greek ” Ambassador to Europe,” was erroneously reported to be at the bottom of the Republican movement. M. Venizelos has always been (outwardly at all events) pro-Monarchist. His quarrel with the late King Constantine was personal, not dynastic. On the bare face of the situation M. Venizelos would be the last Greek statesman to condone any act which might alienate the ” affections” of the two great Balkan Powers, in whose boundless political fields he has gamboled, with some effect, for nearly 40 years.

Analyzed, the political situation is the quintessence of absurdity. Constitutionally, Greece is virtually a Republic. The King has no say in political matters, is—in fact—in the unfortunate position of being a despised figurehead. A change in designation would in reality mean very little politically, but it might well hinder the economic recovery of the nation. It was said, however, that the one man praying for the success of the Republicans is King George of Greece.

— King George of Greece married Princess Elizabeth of Rumania, Feb. 27, 1921 ; Princess Helene, his sister, married Crown Prince Carol of Rumania, March 10, 1921. Princess Olga, first cousin of the King, married Prince Paul of Serbia, Oct. 22, 1923.