Show GECE FILES FORMAL PROTEST AT T WASHINGTON AGAINST GROSS VIOLATIONS OF LAW 99 f MAD BV BRITISH AND AD FRENCH ATOS Urges United States to Announce Announce Announce An An- of Actions of Entente 0 Dy By United tufted Press to The Toe WASHINGTON Dec 2 Greece today filed formal protest protest protest pro pro- test with the United States against actions of the entente allies It denounces British and French governments for gross violations violations violations viola viola- of or International law and urges the United States to announce its disapproval dis approval of or the allied actions The text follows From the Ute beginning of or the European Euro Edro- realizing realizing war its its the duties Hellenic In rega regard d government to t the ede- ede defense de fence of or the national Interests and its responsibility towards the country has after an extended examination of or orthe the situation decided that Greece ought not to take part-in part the sanguinary ary struggle in which nearly all of Europe has become involved Tho Hellenic government while maintaining its neutrality had constantly constantly con con- in view the possible abandonment abandonment abandon abandon- ment of or this policy if Ir at a given moment moment moment mo mo- ment it should become convinced that however great might be the sacrifices and dangers of a war It would serve the national aspirations Unfortunately it has not been possible possible pos pos- sible for us up to the present to obtain ob ob- tain the necessary guarantees that Greece by engaging in the European conflict should not be doomed to t inevitable inevitable inevitable in in- evitable destruction In remaining neutral the Hellenic r government had in view only H Hellenic interests and has not been as a consistent consistent consistent con con- effort has been made to make makei i it appear in sympathy with one of or the two belligerent groups A Greek government government government gov gov- could think solely of Greek interests The geographical situation of or Greece which places it in the most direct contact with one of or the two groups of belligerent powers renders very difficult a strict application of or its policy It Is for this OIls reason that the Continued on page 2 2 PROTEST OF GREECE AGAINST ENTENTE FilED WITH U. U S. S Athens Government Convinced Convinced Convinced Con Con- vinced Says Document of Americas America's Sympathetic Interest r Continued from page 1 I government ment bas has been forced to submit to the occupation by foreign arms of its Macedonian 1 provinces province's and anti to try toper per per- permit permit permit mit belligerents to take possession of its telegraph wires seaports public c buildings and public works Greek Greel roads and railways have been occupied by force and furthermore furthermore furthermore further further- more bridges and tunnels valued d at many millions have have- been completely destroyed At the th- moment when the present Hellenic government assumed power an Imposing fleet blocked the entrance to the straits of S Salamis the anchorage anchor anchor- age of the Hellenic fleet Despite Despi our protestations and arid formal refusals we have been compelled to c command our crews to abandon the vessels of the light fleet in order to save them from the pain of having to surrender i ith th the vessels upon which only recently they had taken part in two victorious wars w rs For about a month now the Greeks have witnessed with a legitimate grief the application of foreign control over nearly the me whole of their public service ser service vice their means Of communication their mails roans their telegraph and telephone telephone tele tele- phone systems The Greek reek n merchant I fleet sees its activity curtailed by mu multiple mul I tiple visits and restriction of every sort I For a long time Greece has not been able to import from abroad that which has been absolutely essential for its nourishment or the ne necessities of life nor the materials f for r light and for motive power for its commerce onland on onland onland land as a's well as on sea Quite recently the trad traditional hospitality hospitality hospitality hos hos- of the Gre Greek k people has has suffered suf suffered suffered a wound t td to which they are deeply deeply deep deep- ly sensitive The right of the toe strongest strong strong- est has been constantly opposed to the legitimate protests of Greece notwithstanding notwithstanding notwithstanding standing that th the latter lag has no tin to the present tin time e. e endured everything with that p patience and dignity which smaller small small- er nations ons possess to the highest de de- de- de gree But the latest dem demand ld of the admiral commanding tb the n naval vat f forces of the entente in the Mediterranean has bas c called Upon the Hellenic government government government govern govern- ment to deliver up material of war a acquired ac acquired ac- ac at the price of heavy sacrifices sacrificed and which in in the th view fo the Greek people can only serve for the defense of national interests interests this demand I Isay Isay say is one which th the people their constitutional con constitutional chiefs the tile army and the navy are unanimous iri in refusing The Hellenic government strengthened strengthened strength strength- strengthened ened by th the support of the entire nation nation na nation na- na tion has refused and will continue to refuse this th's last action which has profoundly profoundly profoundly pro pro- stirred the Greek soul and is isa isa a a. serious assault upon the sovereign rights of th the country Greece cannot annot deprive herself of her arms and renounce renounce re re- the tile future defending herself against eventual dangers I believe my duty Mr Ir Minister to expose to you OU in all frankness the very painful situation In which Greece finds herself at t the present to the end that you may enlighten your country on this matter The Hellenic government t desires that neutral nations should recognize the fact that the spirit of conciliation and equity of which they h have ve given proof has not saved the Hellenic people people people peo peo- from the grave vicissitudes vicissitudes' to which their fatherland is subjected at atthe atthe atthe the present moment We are not strong enough to escape them for they are the inevitable result of the geographical geographical geo geo- graphical l position of Greece and of the conflict of interests interests' of the great I belligerent powers Nevertheless conscious of her right Greece is not discouraged She is confident that despite all she will emerge from the present crisis weakened weakened weak weak- weakened ened but intact and ready to reconstitute reconstitute reconstitute recon recon- her force with the view of a accomplishing ac her duties toward Hellen Hellen- ism I do dp not doubt Mr Minister that you will offer in these painful circumstances circum circum- circumstances stances the support rt which I ask of you I am convinced of the sympathetic interest which you bear for the affairs of our country and I assure you that this tIlls conviction is precious t to the Hellenic government and the people peo pea pie of Greece in the trials through which they are passing Accept Mr Minister with my grat- grat gratItude tude t the of e assurance my highest consideration con consideration Signed |