HC Deb 30 November 1916 vol 88 cc446-7
4. Mr. KING

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, whether he can state to what extent financial, as well as diplomatic and military, support has been given to M. Venizelos?

Lord R. CECIL

The Allied Governments have furnished to M. Venizelos an advance of 10 million drachmae, and they are at the same time rendering to him considerable assistance in kind in connection with the equipment, maintenance, and transport of volunteers adhering to the Venizelist movement.

7. Mr. LYNCH

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether Herr Esslin. a German agent, who is asserted by an official telegram from the Venizelist Government dispatched from Salonika on 18th November to be organising outrages against the adherents of M. Venizelos and paying Royalist rioters in Lamia at the rate of 6 francs a head, is still resident in Athens; and, if so, why he has not been expelled?

Lord R. CECIL

As the hon. Member is aware, the Allied Powers are taking energetic steps at Athens to induce the Greek Government to expel all enemy agents in Greece, and I have inquired of His Majesty's Minister at Athens whether this particular agent was among those who recently left the country.

Mr. LYNCH

Cannot we have the reply?

Lord R. CECIL

I have not received it yet.

Mr. DILLON

May I put an urgent question to the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, of which I have given him private notice, namely, what provision has been made by the Allied Governments to safeguard the status, as combatants, of the Greeks who joined the Venizelist Army, and to make sure that if taken prisoners by the enemy they will be treated as soldiers and prisoners of war; and whether, in the case of Greek soldiers and of civilians who join the National Army coming from south of the neutral zone, the Allied Governments have made it quite clear that they will be safeguarded against any penalties from the King's Government in the future?

Lord R. CECIL

As regards the first part of the question, the forces of M. Venizelos will be regarded by the Allies for belligerent purposes as volunteers serving with the Allied Armies at Salonika. As regards the second part, I would refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply returned to the hon. and gallant Member for the Maidstone Division on the 7th instant.