Page:Christian Greece and Living Greek.djvu/229

Rh whenever the chance offers, as black a case as possible against the Greek people."

The author also tells that the English news- papers had refused to accept his statement, and that he was obliged to have it published at his own expense, and thus to come forward in an unusual way.

It was the plea of the great powers that the new government required not only armed protection, but political guidance. But the three flags which floated beside the banner of the Greek cross covered also the distinct interests of the several protecting powers which they represented. This protectorate of the three great powers was a systematic interference in the affairs of the country, thus paralyzing the government, debasing it in the eyes of its subjects. Political passions, thanks to the jealousies of the three "protecting" powers, ran high. The unfortunate country had been made the chess-board of European diplomacy and was rent to three great parties, the English, the French, and the Russian, with, the respective ambassador at the head of each.

The young King Otho, perplexed in the midst of this state of things, the more so as he was surrounded by many counsellors among whom