§ Mr. R. McNEILLasked whether the withdrawal of the Royalist troops from Thessaly in accordance with the terms of the Note accepted by King Constantine implies that the troops and authority of M. Venizelos will now be allowed to extend to places so evacuated south of the neutral zone?
§ Lord R. CECILNo, Sir. The object of insisting on the withdrawal of the troops from Thessaly and Epirus is to protect the rear and flank of the Allied Forces from the possibility of attack by such troops.
§ 4. Mr. McNEILLasked whether the decision to recognise the agents of M. Venizelos, announced by the Prime Minister, implies the full and official recognition by the Allies of the Greek provisional Government of M. Venizelos at Salonika?
§ Lord R. CECILI am not quite sure what is meant by the full and official recognition of the provisional Government. We recognise that it is in fact the Government where its authority is established and we agree to receive its agents and discuss with them affairs of interest to the provisional Government and our own. At the moment I do not know what more we can do.
§ Mr. McNEILLWhat is the meaning of that? Is it proposed to recognise two Governments and yet to recognise only one Government—in other words to continue the policy of the Athanasian creed?
§ Lord R. CECILI do not see the object of this theological reference from my hon. Friend. Coming to the substance of his question I do not think that it is unusual to recognise two Governments in a country. In the American Civil War there was recognition of the North and also of the South.
§ Mr. McNEILLHas not my Noble Friend said in answer to a question that there is only one Government in Greece?
§ Mr. PRINGLEAre we to understand now that the Government do not recognise M. Venizelos as acting on behalf of the King?
§ Lord R. CECILIt would be rather rash to say that we now recognise M. Venizelos as acting on behalf of the King.
§ Mr. McNEILL(by Private Notice) asked the Under-Secretary for Foreign Affairs whether the fact that we are now in diplomatic relations with M. Venizelos it will make any material change in the situation in Greece?
§ Lord R. CECILI am glad my hon. Friend has asked that question, because it is one of the advantages of the new arrangement, by which we are to receive 1807 agents of a diplomatic character from M. Venizelos that we shall be able to discuss with them the exact position which M. Venizelos' Government holds.
§ Mr. LYNCHWill the Noble Lord inform the House that the dilatory and dangerous policy which has been pursued in Greece is motived by dynastic reasons?
§ Lord R. CECILI have already told the hon. Member and the House several times that that insinuation, which is a very cowardly insinuation to make, is absolutely untrue.
§ Mr. LYNCHOn a point of Order. As a personal explanation, may I say I make that not as an insinuation, but as a declaration.
§ Mr. SPEAKERThat is not an explanation at all, but merely a repetition of the attack. I have warned the hon. Gentleman once or twice—he is always asking the same question—that he is not entitled to make charges of that kind except upon proper motion.
§ Mr. LYNCHOn a point of Order. Am I not entitled to make an explanation to repel the charge of cowardice made?
§ Mr. SPEAKERThe hon. Gentleman is not entitled to make a personal explanation which repeats the offence.