§ 10. Mr. NOEL BUXTONasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether any British officers are serving in the naval or military forces of Turkey or of any of the Balkan States; if so, in what capacity; and whether such officers will be recalled?
§ Sir E. GREYThe services of British officers have been lent for the purposes of organisation and instruction both to the Turkish and Greek Governments. In the former case there are British officers temporarily employed in the navy and in the gendarmerie; in the latter case in the navy alone. In the former case the course followed at the outbreak of the Turco-Italian war, was that British officers in Turkish employment at the outbreak of hostilities might continue at their posts, on the understanding that they took no part in hostilities, and that their services were not calculated to assist the belligerent in the war. In regard to the officers employed in the Turkish gendarmerie, they are simply instructors; but the continuance of their services was, of course, subject to the same conditions as those already mentioned in the case of the naval officers. In regard to the British officers, whose services have been lent for the reorganisation and instruction of the Greek Navy, it is stipulated in the contract, concluded in their case with the Greek Government, that in the event of war between the Kingdom of Greece and any other Power members of the mission shall not be empowered to take any active part therein. In such an eventuality it is provided that the contract in question shall be terminated on certain specified conditions as to pay and allowance. As at present advised, I do not see why the course followed in the Italian-Turkish war should not serve as a precedent for future wars.