By the time M. Jonnart left Athens (7 July), he had every reason to feel gratified at the complete success of his efforts. France's protege was installed at the head of the Hellenic Nation, ready to lead it forth by her side; the regular working of Constitutional institutions was assured; and the foundations of a democratic government were well and truly laid. In all history it would be difficult to find a more signal instance of brute force and bad faith triumphing in the name of Law and Verity. [1] Reuter, Athens, 16 June, 1917; Jonnart, pp. 137-40. [2] Jonnart, pp. 147-51, 179-80. [3] See Art. 4 of the Greek Constitution. [4] Jonnart, p. 147. [5] _Ibid_, p. 160. [6] _Ibid_, p. 170. [7] The _New Europe_, 29 March, 1917, p. 327. [8] Jonnart, p. 159. [9] Sarrail, pp. 102, 153, 234-5. One of their quarrels arose from the fact that General Sarrail claimed entire jurisdiction over the inhabitants of the country, many of whom he had deported to France as suspects and refused to give them up to the courts competent to deal with them. [10] Reuter, Athens, 21 June, 1917. [11] Jonnart, p. 161. [12] Jonnart, pp. 162-73, 180-1. [13] Jonnart, pp. 176-8, 199-201. The Italians, who had stepped into Epirus, only evacuated it when they made sure that their allies were quitting Thessaly and Attica. [14] Regnault, pp. 100-2; Jonnart, p. 184; The _Morning Post_, 29 June, 1917. [15] Jonnart, pp. 185-90. [16] _Ibid_, pp.191-3, 195-6. [17] Jonnart, pp. 194-5. {207} CHAPTER XX It is not my intention to give a minute and consecutive account of the abnormal state which prevailed in Greece during a period of more than three years. I will, for once, flatter its authors by imitating their summary methods. M. Venizelos, hating monarchy, yet unable to dispense with it; despising democracy, yet obliged to render it lip-homage; maintained his own unlimited power by the same system of apparent liberty and real violence by which he had attained it. The semblance of a free Constitution was preserved in all its forms: Crown, Parliament, Press, continued to figure as heretofore. But each only served to clothe the skeleton of a dictatorship as absolute as that of any Caesar. King Alexander, without experience or character, weak, frivolous and plastic, obediently signed every decree presented to him. When recourse to the Legislature was thought necessary, the Chamber perfunctorily passed every Bill submitted to it. The newspapers were tolerated as long as they refrained from touching on essentials.