Claiborne Pell: “I have long been an admirer of Greece and the democratic values that America shares with that country. It is, therefore…”

“I have long been an admirer of Greece and the democratic values that America shares with that country. It is, therefore, with great disappointment that I recently learned that the present Government of Greece has introduced legislation confiscating property owned by King Constantine and stripping him and his family of their Greek citizenship. This is a clear violation of human rights, and I urge the Government of Greece to reconsider its actions. King Constantine is a Greek patriot in the finest sense of the word. He and his father and grandfather were all born in Greece, and King Constantine is rightfully indignant at having his Greek heritage challenged. Although King Constantine was ousted as Greece's monarch in 1967, he has never done or said anything that would undermine Greek interests. He has always placed Greece's interests over personal ambition. That is why it is so hard to understand why the Greek Government would take such vindictive action against him. Common decency and fair play call for withdrawing the unfair legislation directed against King Constantine.”