§ 1. Sir J. D. REESasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has any official information as to atrocities upon Moslems at Teleper and Klisura imputed to the Epirotes during their march towards the coast?
§ 4. Mr. STEWARTasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he has any information regarding the burning of the town of Tepelini by Epirotes, and of the massacre of all the inhabitants, men, women and children, of the village of Batska; and whether the women of the latter place were first strangled and then cut to pieces?
§ The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for FOREIGN AFFAIRS (Mr. Acland)I will reply to this question and to that of the hon. Member for Wirral (No. 4) together. The accounts of what is taking place in Southern Albania are very distressing, but I have received no realiable details, and such reports as reach me are, of course, from unofficial sources and un-authenticated. I have communicated with the Powers on the subject.
§ 2. Sir J. D. REESasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he can give the House any information re garding the situation at Durazzo, and can say whether any material or moral sup port is being afforded by his Majesty's Government to Prince William?
§ Mr. ACLANDDurazzo is still invested by the insurgents, but has been for some time free from active attack. Rear-Admiral Troubridge is present with two of His Majesty's ships, and has orders to co-operate with the foreign men-of-war in providing for the personal security of the Prince, his officials, and all European non-combatants, should occasion arise.
§ 3. Mr. STEWARTasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, in view of the admission of the Greek Minister at Durazzo that the Cretan criminals are now in Epirus, he can say 6 who was responsible for the release of these prisoners; and if he can make repro sentations to the Hellenic Government to ask them to withdraw these criminals from Albania?
§ Mr. ACLANDI have nothing to add to the reply given on the 25th June to a very similar question by the hon. Member for Central Hull.
§ 5. Mr. GRETTONasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if the Conference in London, of which he acted as chairman, signed an agreement for the establishment of Albania as an autonomous State; and if he, as chairman of the Conference, signed the agreement?
§ Mr. ACLANDThe creation of an autonomous Albanian State rests on a resolution adopted at a meeting of the Ambassadors' Conference, over which my right hon. Friend presided. The proceedings of that Conference were not embodied in any formal document, and the occasion to sign an agreement did not, therefore, arise. To avoid misunderstanding, I may add that the Ambassadors' Conference acted simply as a means of keeping the Governments of the countries there represented in close touch with one another, and that their resolutions were simply the records of the points upon which these Governments were in agreement.
§ Mr. GRETTONAm I to understand that there is no agreement as to the status of Albania?
§ Mr. ACLANDThere is a written agreement as to the boundaries of Albania.
§ Mr. D. MASONDoes that agreement entered into amongst the Powers imply any possibility of the maintenance of law and order?
§ Mr. ACLANDI think my right hon. Friend has lately, in answer to a question, said that His Majesty's Government does not admit any responsibility for the maintenance of law and order in Albania.
7. Mr. SHIRLEY BENNasked the Secretary for Foreign Affairs whether the Epirote Government of M. Zographos has ever adhered to the agreement of Corfu?
§ Mr. ACLANDThe agreement concluded with the International Commission in Albania was accepted by Monsieur Zographos on behalf of the Epirote Provisional Government, but I regret to say that it has since been practically repudiated by other Epirotes.
8. Mr. SHIRLEY BENNasked the Secretary for Foreign Affairs whether he will ascertain if the Greek Government pro poses to hold M. Doulis, commander of the Epirote forces, responsible for past massacres of Albanians?
§ Mr. ACLANDI have been informed by the Greek Government that Colonel Doulis has been struck off the list of officers of the Greek Army. He is therefore no longer responsible to them.