Fired!

To facilitate the work of the National Assembly in reaching an unbiased decision on the future constitutional regime, the Gonatas Cabinet decided to ask King George and Queen Elizabeth to leave the country. A bonus of 1,000,000 drachmas and a pension of 1,500,000 drachmas a year were voted to the King.

The Cabinet came to this decision after receiving the following resolution from a group of Army and Navy officers under general Pangalos : 1) That the gulf dividing the Hellenes is due to the Glucksburg dynasty; 2) That the same dynasty, for the sake of its family relationships, prevented Greece from making a timely entry into the late War on the side of the Allies, in spite of the opinion expressed by the people in the elections in 1915;

3) That, owing to King Constantino's personal insistence on the adoption of a treacherous policy in violating the treaty with Serbia, Greece was dishonored;

4) That the surrender to the Germans and the Bulgars of Fort Rupel in East Macedonia with one army corps resulted in the death of 80,000 people;

5) That King Constantino's return, in spite of his knowledge of the consequences, resulted in the Asia Minor calamity;

6) That the honor of the Army and Nation was sacrificed in Asia Minor for the sake of an ignominious crown;

7) That the same dynasty through the present King engineered the recent fratricidal movement endangering the nation simply to strengthen its tottering throne. (This was officially denied by Premier Gonatas.)

The British Charge d'Affaires, C. H. Bentinck, called upon the Premier and announced that while his Government had no intention of interfering in the internal politics of Greece, it could not remain indifferent to the personal safety of King George, a near relative of His Britannic Majesty.* Premier Gonatas assured him that there was no cause for anxiety.

In reply to the Cabinet's invitation to quit the country, King George stressed the fact that he had always kept aloof from politics and that he could not see that by staying in the country he would in any way embarrass the National Assembly. In deference to the wishes of the Cabinet, however, he agreed to leave Greece temporarily, declaring his "deep conviction and warmest wish that the judgment of the National Assembly of the Greek people will be guided by sentiments of love toward the fatherland and national interests."

Accompanied by Queen Elizabeth and by M. Soutzo, Marshal of the Court, and Captain Roussen, an aide-de-camp, King George motored to the royal landing stage at Piraeus. Here were some 50 people waiting to say au revoir. This small group was composed mostly of palace functionaries and foreign journalists. Premier Gonatas was the sole member of the Revolutionary Government, and M. Jouvara, Rumanian Minister to Greece, was the only diplomat present. The King shook hands all 'round, and the Queen, who carried a bouquet of white roses, smiled bravely as she comforted her weeping ladies-in-waiting. Their Majesties then stepped into a launch and were carried out to the steamer Daphne, which was to take them to Constanta in Rumania. As the King and Queen stepped aboard the ship the Royal Standard was hoisted, a guard of honor presented arms, a salute of 21 guns roared its farewell from the land batteries, and a few minutes later anchor was weighed and

George II, fourth King of the Greek branch of the House of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg and Gluecksburg, was sailing from Greece -- most people thought for ever.

Meanwhile, in Athens, Admiral Koundouristis was appointed Regent, a position which he filled in 1920 after the death of King Alexander (George's brother) from a monkey bite.

As in the days of old, men foregathered on the Acropolis and discussed the question of a Republic. Naturally enough Eleutherios Venezilos, ex-Premier, in self-imposed exile at Paris, was the center of all discussions. The Military Revolutionists telegraphed him to return providing that he would recognize as a fait accompli the Republic of the Hellenes. Venizelos refused. Then the Cabinet sent him an unconditional invitation to return and take in hand the complicated political situation. Venezilos refused. It was thought he would change his mind later.

General Pangalos demanded the resignation of the Government, stating that on the results of the recent elections it ought to be turned over to the Republicans. (Owing to general confusion this was by no means certain.) Premier Gonatas said he intended to stay in power until the National Assembly had convened (January 2) and had elected a President and a Speaker.

Colonel Plastiras, so-called Dictator of Greece, who was responsible for ousting King Constantine in September, 1922, said the monarchy had not been abolished. "The form of government under which we shall go on," he said, "must be debated by Parliament and determined by plebiscite. So we announced before the election and so we mean to settle the question of the regime. It may be that the choice will be a constitutional monarchy, though under a different dynasty, perhaps, than the present one. If the popular will is for a republic, then we shall have a republic. The great number of our people who go to your country and come back have familiarized us with republican forms and institutions. You have seen the elections and the perfect order and calm that have followed. In a similar crisis could America do better? Our people are ready for free government. Whether we are a monarchy or a republic we shall be a democracy."

The King and Queen of Greece were met at Constanta by the Crown Prince and Princess of Rumania, brother and sister respectively of the Greek monarchs. The Royal party then journeyed by rail to Bucharest and were met by the King and Queen of Rumania and representatives of the Army, Navy, Ministry and foreign countries accredited to Rumania. Large crowds cheered the royal party as it passed through the streets of the capital.

While in Rumania King George and Queen Elizabeth will reside at the Royal Palace at Controceni.

An outline of the history of Greece in relation to the monarchy: 1829, Greece obtained complete independence from Turkey; 1830, Greece declared a kingdom. For three years the vacant throne was "peddled" around Europe and finally accepted by Prince Otto of Bavaria, who ascended the throne January 25, 1833; 1862, King Otto was dethroned; 1863, after having again made the round of the European Courts, the throne was accepted by Prince William, second son of King Christian IX of Denmark, who succeeded as George I, King of the Hellenes; 1913, King George was assassinated, and was succeeded by his son, Constantine; 1917, King Constantine was dethroned and his son, Alexander, became King; 1920, King Alexander died; King Constantine then returned and reigned until 1922, when he abdicated and died in exile January 11, 1923. He was succeeded by his second son, the present King.

*King George of Greece is a first cousin once removed of King George of Britain by the marriage of Edward VII to Princess Alexandra of Denmark.