No. 224.
Mr. Read
to Mr. Evarts.
Athens, January 25, 1878. (Received February 16.)
Sir: Referring to my No. 340, I have the honor to report that the coalition ministry, composed of the various political leaders, tendered its resignation on the 22d instant. This resulted from a divergence of opinion in respect to the warlike or peaceful attitude of Greece.
[Page 361]The King invited Mr. Coumoundouros to form a cabinet, which he organized as follows:
Mr. A. Coumoundourous, president of the council and minister of the interior;
Mr. Papamichalopoulos, minister of finance and ad interim of justice;
Mr. S. Petmezas, minister of war;
Mr. G. Bouboulis, minister of marine;
Mr. Theodore P. Delyanni, minister of foreign affairs and ad interim of ecclesiastical affairs and public instruction.
The new cabinet took the oaths before the King on the 23d, at 6 p.m.
On the following day Mr. Coumoundourous appeared before the Chamber and announced the resignation of the former ministry, and his own advent to power. He added:
After the resignation of the common ministry, or, as it was called, the ecumenical government (whose retirement I sincerely disliked, and for whose maintainment I earnestly labored), His Majesty charged me with the formation of the new government. I felt, gentlemen, all the weight of the mission, because I knew, as you know, what circumstances and dangers surround us. I, however, as well as my honorable colleagues, thought that we must not hesitate to submit to such a sacrifice, because really it is a sacrifice to undertake how the direction of public affairs. We decided, therefore, to accept office, and here we are before you as ministers.
Our programme is contained in a few words: Active and real protection and defense of Hellenism, and of our oppressed and tyrannized brethren. [Loud applause from the galleries, and protracted cheers.]
Gentlemen, in the circumstances we must not get enthusiastic over words. Let us look for deeds. Let us hope that things may turn to our advantage. We need prudence more than enthusiasm.
We will submit to you in a day or two the measures by which we think that our programme will be carried out. I believe that this delay will not appear strange to you, because I have associated with me some new colleagues, who now for the first time are acquainted with the state of things and with the actual situation. There is, therefore, an absolute necessity for us to request this delay.
We shall preserve a strict respect for the constitution, for the power of every government lies in a strict adherence to constitutional principles.
For the present I beg the Chamber to discuss the bills concerning the national guard, the contributions levied for military purposes, and the budget,
The Greek papers thoroughly approve the programme of the new cabinet, saying that it expresses the public opinion of the country. They declare that the nation is ready to sacrifice everything for the purpose of delivering its brethren from servitude.
I have, &c.,