A statement of the reasons for his action which .M
Venizelos handed to the correspondent of the Times is admirable. He explaini how King Constantine told him that, though willing to leave the internal affairs of Greece to the Government, he regarded himself " before God " as solely responsible for international relations. The statement goes on :— ".I replied,' continued M. Venizelos, ' You are enunciating the doctrine of the divine right of Kings, with which we have nothing to do in Greece. Your father was freely elected by the Greek people to be their-King, and you are his successor. rThere is no divine right in that title. It is based on the mandate of the people.' What lies at the root of the King's attitude is that he regards the Kingdom of Greece as his own personal property. That is the Prussian theory of kingship. We cannot recognize it in Greece."
M. .Venizelos was so anxious- to save- the dynasty that for long he hesitated to act, but at last his friends said to him : " Venizelos, you also have your share of responsibility in this matter. Your influence in the country is so great and so many people look to you as leader that, while you remain inactive, they say to themselves : It must be all right, since Venizelos takes it quietly.' " M. Venitelos is morally and legally justified. The Protecting Powers (Britain, France, Russia) guaranteed Greece a Constitutional Government by treaty. The violation of his promise by the King would require them 'to intervene in any case.
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