HC Deb 05 January 1916 vol 77 cc934-5
4. Mr. KING

asked the Secretary for Foreign Affairs whether he has given his attention to the statements of Mr. Skouloudis, the Greek Premier, especially to the statements that the Entente Powers offered to Greece terms which included her co-operation in the Dardanelles on the condition that Greek troops should not march on Constantinople nor come within 50 miles of Constantinople; and whether he can make any statement on the subject?

Lord R. CECIL

I think it would be very undesirable to make statements about particular communications that may or may not have occurred in past months with other Powers in previous stages of the War.

Mr. OUTHWAITE

May I ask why the statement which was made in the Greek Chamber by M. Venizelos and M. Gounaris cannot be made in this House? Did not both those Ministers say that Greece had offered to provide a landing force at the time of the first Dardanelles enterprise?

Lord R. CECIL

I think the hon. Member cannot have heard the answer to the question.

Mr. KING

Does the right hon. Gentleman not realise that we have to get our information as to what our Foreign Office is doing from neutrals and Allies rather than from our own Foreign Office?

Lord R. CECIL

I am afraid that is an injudicious course.

Mr. KING

Can the light hon. Gentleman suggest to me any other more judicious course that would be more successful?

Lord R. CECIL

I can assure my hon. Friend that no one is more averse to unnecessary secrecy than the Secretary of State, or myself. We are always ready to give any information we can possibly give with due regard to the public interest.