There are certain anniversaries, such as that of today, that fully
deserve to be celebrated, for they contain such reassuring lessons that
they are justly brought into prominence.
We cannot help admiring the heroism of little Belgium, which stood out
so boldly against the outrageous demand of a militaristic power that
had resolved to trample upon morality, and to violate justice.
We are compelled to extol that superhuman calmness with which
peace-loving France accepted the challenge which the German Colossus
launched at her, bidding her forget her sworn faith and all the
principles which she had taught and which gave her her beauty.
We must honor, too, Great Britain, which, simply because, in the
person of Belgium, international right had been outraged, entered into
the war so gallantly at its very start, and sent her children—an act
unparalleled in history—by millions to offer their lives voluntarily
for the defense of the right.
The Japanese, faithful to their alliance with Great Britain, followed.
It is an indisputable fact that these countries have saved the world,
for the example that they have thus given humanity was so grand and
glorious that it has carried other nations with it.
There have been moments of uncertainty and doubt, in the face of
the colossal strength of Germany, and the ferocity of her attacks.
In view of the destruction which seemed so certain, the instinct of
self-preservation, for a considerable time, dominated the peoples not
immediately touched by the war.
But the cruelty of Germany and of her accomplices has finally roused
all the nobler and more generous nations. One after another they have
become involved, for their revulsion of feeling at her atrocities is
such that it has silenced every other sentiment.
Italy was the first to set the example by turning away from an
alliance, the evil aims of which had been revealed to her, and she was
soon followed by Rumania.
The Great Republic of the United States, after having for a long
time hoped to induce Germany to respect international treaties, has
resolutely entered into the great conflict.
Greece was the last European state to enter into the fight. I say, the
last, although, in fact, she really takes her place next to England.
For it is a well-known fact that in August, 1914, before the battle
of the Marne had taken place, at the time when the Germans were at
the gates of Paris, Greece, through her government, had offered her
aid: perhaps if at this moment the Allies had understood aright the
situation in the Orient, if they had taken advantage of this offer,
many disasters might have been averted.
This mistaken policy on the part of the Allies permitted Germany to
utilize the instruments that she had been preparing for a long time
in the Orient. Two years had been lost: disasters had been piled on
disasters, before the necessary measures were taken and the Greek
people had become free to act according to its aspirations. There, too,
we see the same reassuring results. Noble sentiments obtained the upper
hand over feelings of self-interest. These feelings were so strong
that they silenced the doubts and fears even of timid souls. We must
recall that in June, 1917, Rumania was defeated, the Russian collapse
was complete and the German armies free to turn against Greece. On the
other hand, the dissension caused by German propaganda in Greece seemed
so deeply rooted, that even the friends of Greece did not believe that
she was capable of taking any important part in the struggle.
Under the inspiring influence of the man who knows Greece best, because
he embodies all the better qualities of the Greek nature, Eleutherios
Venizelos, Greece refused to see the danger; she became united and
filled with an eager enthusiasm, and in less than a year her troops
have obtained appreciable results.
What this renaissance cost in effort the world cannot yet know. When
the facts are known, when they can be fully studied, the Greek people
will receive the credit that it deserves, because what it has achieved
is due only to its patriotism and self-sacrifice.
From the close of 1916, when Greece, though still divided, began the
struggle, up to today, when, as a united people, she is carrying on the
fight, she has sacrificed thousands of her children for the triumph
of the common ideal, and is arming herself more fully day by day, to
pour out her blood to the last drop in order to secure the victory for
freedom and right. She is paying forth freely without having demanded
anything in return.
These facts prove our superiority to our enemies. A superiority which
consists in the fact that we are fighting for principles created and
imposed by a civilization which began with the beginnings of history,
principles that we wish to apply even to our enemies and which,
moreover, are free from any selfish motives.
It is this absence of egotism in our aims which assures our perfect
union and, through this, our victory.
If you wish to appreciate the palpable difference between us and the
others, look at what is today taking place in a hostile country which I
refrain from naming.
Four peoples, that had formed a coalition, took from their neighbors
all that they could get. Now, in dividing the spoil, because of their
distrust of each other, they are taking precautions against one
another. One of the peoples against whom these precautions are being
taken becomes sulky and shows signs of wanting to go over to the other
side, because all Dobrudja (of which a large part is acknowledged
to be Rumanian by the official representative of this people in the
United States) is not given to her; because all Greek Macedonia is not
declared to be hers; because Serbia is not today obliterated from the
map.
When people are associated in order to bring about some good result,
good faith is preserved in the partnership, but when, on the contrary,
an evil act is accomplished and unlawful gains are obtained, disunion
necessarily results, for “honor among thieves” is, after all, extremely
rare.
Permit me a parenthesis, at this point.
I have read lately with regard to this quarrel that the hope exists
that this country to which I have referred may become detached from her
allies and join in with us.
I am convinced that this supposition cannot be realized. I insist,
however, in protesting even against the reasoning based on such an
hypothesis.
Whatever may be the practical result that we can expect from the
perfidy of our enemies, our feelings revolt against profiting by such
treachery. Our cause is so just that it admits of no compromise.
Should the country of which I am speaking show her repentance, by
restoring all that it has taken from its neighbors, it can find a place
at our side. But to admit in our circle of nations one who flees from
the enemy camp against which we are fighting because his part in the
booty is not that which his appetite has fixed, is impossible. In fact,
such an act would constitute the negation of the principles for which
we are fighting.
We have no need of weakening ourselves. We are materially and, above
all, morally, far superior to our enemies. We must conserve the dignity
of our cause if we wish the results to be commensurate with our efforts.
This is what stands forth preëminently in the celebration of such
anniversaries. They show to us that our civilizations, the Greco-Latin
as well as the Anglo-Saxon, have deep roots, and that they have created
conditions which are essential to our existence.
That when these aspirations thus created in us are threatened, we are
willing to submit to any sacrifices, no matter how great they may be,
in order to defend them.
That our ideals have conquered the greater part of the world, creating
strong bonds of solidarity between the peoples who are impregnated
with them, permitting us to face with confidence the creation of the
league of nations which will assure to the world an era of happiness in
freedom through law.
Let us continue the fight; let us win, maintaining our principles
without compromise. We shall thus be sure of winning the commendation
of humanity.
But we must understand that in order to achieve this result, the
complete liberation of the world, we must submit to great sacrifices of
men and of money.
It is the need of our making these sacrifices which are being utilized
by the German propaganda in order to obtain an immediate peace which is
to the Germans an absolute necessity.
Through its secret agents, she tries to convince us that in order to
obtain the victory against her, our sacrifices will be enormous,
while, if we satisfy some of her aspirations, she will be ready to
respect the liberty of the world.
We must close our ears to these insidious suggestions. Everything that
comes from the enemy camp must arouse our distrust, for Germany wishes
indirectly to obtain what she has originally sought when she let loose
upon the world the dogs of war.
Russia lies prostrate, and Germany wishes to reanimate her, but to
raise her with a German soul. When she has at her disposal the enormous
power of Russia, organized with Prussian efficiency, a more terrible
war awaits the world. The sacrifices to which we shall then be obliged
to submit will be much more terrific.
If we wish to put our programme into operation, we must set ourselves
to change the German mind, showing the ruins that its inhumane
conceptions have accumulated, and the fall of German power that must
result from it. We have to do with fanatics of a peculiar kind, whom
only reality can bring to their senses. The Germans are fighting
in order to impose their civilization on the world by establishing
a domination like that of the Mussulmans, who have slaughtered the
Christians in order to assure their happiness in the future life.
If our victory is incomplete, if the liberty of the nations is not
completely restored, we shall have simply an interlude between acts.
The curtain will rise upon a more terrible tragedy.
Let us endeavor to see beyond the limits of the present. Let us rise to
meet the emergency. The responsibility of our rulers is tremendous, but
they are endowed with the necessary ability to rise to these heights.
Let them not be influenced by these crafty serpents which are subtly
attempting to weaken our moral fiber, for the confidence of the leaders
will maintain the strength of our peoples, which up to the present
nothing has been able to affect, and which constitutes our best means
to win.
Following the example of the countries that for four years have been
shedding their precious blood to conquer the monster, and consenting
to undergo the same sacrifices, we can be absolutely sure that our
victory will be complete.
In the name of the Government which I have the honor to represent, I
can assure you that Greece’s determination to see the struggle through
to the bitter end, is unshakable.