HC Deb 24 July 1913 vol 55 cc2189-90
2. Mr. WHITEHOUSE

asked the Secretary for Foreign Affairs whether there is arty information concerning the position in the Balkans which he could appropriately give to the House?

Sir E. GREY

There is nothing that I can usefully add to the information that has appeared in the Press, or to the statements that have been made by the Prime Minister the other day, or by Lord Morley in another place yesterday.

7. Mr. NOEL BUXTON

asked the Secretary for Foreign Affairs if he can give any further information as to what steps the Red Cross Society are taking as to the Balkan war; and whether he will urge on the Red Cross Society the necessity of sending contingents to the front, both for the wounded and the destitute population?

Sir E. GREY

On 5th July, His Majesty's Acting Consul-General at Salonika reported that in consequence of the renewal of fighting in the neighbourhood of that place, medical stores and help would be welcome. This intimation was at once conveyed by the Red Cross Society, who, I understand, have dispatched units both to Salonika and Athens. His Majesty's Government have no further applications of the kind from any of their representatives in the Balkans, and they are not, in any case, in a position to put on the Red Cross Society pressure of the kind suggested by my hon. Friend. The representations made by my hon. Friend have, however, already been conveyed to the society, in accordance with the promise which was given to him on Tuesday night.

8. Mr. NOEL BUXTON

asked the Secretary for Foreign Affairs if he can give any further information as to the movements of the British military attachés with the forces of any of the belligerent States in the Balkans; and whether, in view of the reports of outrage by troops, he will consider the extreme desirability of the attaches proceeding to the front to verify the published reports?

Sir E. GREY

It has been extremely difficult to secure that military attaches should be at or near the front throughout the whole of the war in the Balkans, and I have no official information that any of our military attaches are now with the forces of any of the belligerent States. I may add that it is no part of the duties of a military attaché to conduct, uninvited, an inquiry such as that suggested by the hon. Member. A military attach? can only be present with the consent of the belligerent Power.

Mr. NOEL BUXTON

Can my right hon. Friend give any further information as to the protests made by the European Consuls at Rodosto against outrages committed by the Turkish troops on the Greek population, and also on the Armenian population, and whether their protests have been energetically backed up by His Majesty's Ambassador at Constantinople?

Sir E. GREY

That is quite a different question from the one on the Paper, and perhaps my hon. Friend will give notice.

9. Mr. PONSONBY

asked the Secretary for Foreign Affairs whether he has official information showing that 8,000 wounded Greeks have been brought into Salonika, and that the number of Bulgarian wounded brought in by the Greek forces is not more than twenty; and whether His Majesty's Consuls have reported that the relief of the wounded Bulgarians of the retreating army has been reasonably carried out by the Greek authorities?

Sir E. GREY

I have no information on any of these points.

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