HC Deb 29 November 1916 vol 88 cc315-7
18. Mr. R. MCNEILL

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, in accordance with the policy of recognising the government of Venizelos as the de facto authority in the districts where his influence predominates, the port of Piraeus is regarded as being under the jurisdiction of the provisional government at Salonika, having regard to the fact that the inhabitants are Venizelist in sympathy?

Mr. HOPE

M. Venizelos was informed that the Allied Powers would recognise his de facto authority in those districts and islands which accepted his Government and officials. These conditions are not present in the case of the Piraeus, so that the suggestion contained in the last part of the question does not arise.

Mr. McNEILL

What is the test of whether or not any particular district is under M. Venizelos' Government?

Mr. HOPE

These matters are far too delicate and important for me to answer supplementary questions on the spur of the moment.

20. Mr. McNEILL

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will say, in view of the fact that the situation in Greece changes from day to day, whether the authority of M. Venizelos is still regarded as extending over New Greece and the islands, while that of the King is limited to Old Greece; if so, will he state what steps have been taken by the Allies to protect the Venizelists in Kolendro, Libanovo, Ekaterini, Grevena, Elassona, and other districts in New Greece, where they are being subjected to persecution by agents of the unconstitutional Government at Athens?

Mr. HOPE

The definition of the respective zones of authority in Greece has to some extent been modified by the creation of the neutral zone. His Majesty's Government are in consultation with their Allies in regard to the point raised in the second part of the hon. Member's question.

Mr. DILLON

May I ask, as this is a very urgent matter, what is the position of Greek officers and men—from the combatant point of view—who are on the wrong side of the neutral zone, and who join the Venizelos Army? Are they to be treated as francs-tireurs, as the German newspapers say, and to be shot and executed?

Mr. HOPE

I am afraid that I cannot answer this supplementary question.

Mr. DILLON

I will put it down to-morrow.

21. Mr. R. McNEILL

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the delimitation of the neutral zone between the Venizelists and the Court party in Greece was arranged on the advice of M. Venizelos or after consultation with him; whether the effect of this arrangement is to obstruct the exercise of his influence by M. Venizelos in Thessaly, where the population is preponderatingly in his favour; whether it secures to the Court party districts of South Macedonia and the whole of Epirus, where M. Venizelos polled large majorities in the elections of 1915; and whether, in concert with the Allies and after consultation with M. Venizelos, he will take immediate steps so to rearrange the neutral zone as not to favour the interests of the enemies of the Allies in Greece?

Mr. HOPE

I have nothing to add to the account which my right hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs gave of this question on Monday.

Mr. LYNCH

Is there any means by which M. Venizelos can increase the region over which he has de facto authority, or is the interpretation of the speech of the Noble Lord, the other evening, an invitation to the King to hold fast, and that he would be protected by the Allies?

Mr. HOPE

The hon. Gentleman must ask my Noble Friend for his own interpretation of his speech.

22. Sir E. CORNWALL

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the Boulogne Conference decided to introduce any new principle into the procedure governing the action of the Allied Powers in Greece; and, if so, whether the privileged status of the protecting Powers, England, France, and Russia, is thereby affected?

Mr. HOPE

It is not possible for me to make statements in this House regarding what passed between the Allied Powers at the Conference of Boulogne without consulting those Powers, except that there was complete agreement as to the steps then to be taken with regard to Greece, but I can assure the hon. Gentleman that the status of the guaranteeing Powers was in no way affected by any decisions come to at that Conference.