HC Deb 14 February 1917 vol 90 c602
17. Mr. LYNCH

asked whether all the followers of M. Venizelos, who had been imprisoned in Athens on account of their sympathies with his movement have been released?

Mr. BALFOUR

So far as can be ascertained all persons imprisoned in Athens on account of their sympathies with Monsieur Venizelos have now been released.

Mr. LYNCH

Docs that mean all the persons imprisoned at the time the order for release was given, or is it a fact as has been widely stated, that a certain number of these prisoners were killed or executed previously to the liberation of the others?

Mr. BALFOUR

I have no certain confirmation of any rumour of that kind. I can only speak to the question of the position of the Venizelist prisoners at the present moment. Some of them may have been killed earlier in the course of these unhappy occurrences.

Mr. LYNCH

Will the right hon. Gentleman be good enough to make inquiries upon this point which is exercising the minds of a great many people?

Mr. BALFOUR

Yes, I shall be glad to make inquiries.