§ 11. Mr. RONALD McNEILLasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether it is the intention of the protecting Powers to allow King Constantine and his family to remain on Greek soil; and whether any steps have been or are being "taken to remove from Greece Herr Streit, M. Gounaris, Colonel Metaxas, General Dousmanis, and other notoriously pro-German intriguers?
§ Lord R. CECILThe answer to the first part of the question is in the negative; that to the second is, I believe, in the affirmative.
§ Mr. SNOWDENIs it true, as stated in the Press yesterday, that the Queen of Greece is now in London?
§ Lord R. CECILCertainly not.
§ Lord R. CECILI had better explain that the actual arrangements were left very much in the hands of the High Commissioner whom we agreed with the French to appoint—M. Jonnart—and we have not yet received full reports from him as to "what exactly took place.
§ Lord R. CECILI should like to consult the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, although I imagine that Papers will be laid sooner or later.
§ 12. Mr. R. McNEILLasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether His Majesty's Government is now prepared to invite the Governments of the French and Russian republics to consent to the abrogation of that part of the Treaty of 1832 which guarantees a monarchical constitution to Greece; and whether, in accordance with the spirit of the preamble to the treaty of 1863, which 1396 stated that the arrangement establishing the present dynasty on the throne of Greece was made in order to give effect to the wish of the Greek nation as declared by a plebiscite of all Greeks at home and abroad taken in the preceding year, it will be left to the Greek nation to determine by a similar plebiscite what form of government shall now be established in Greece?
§ Lord R. CECILThe Treaty of July, 1863, was concluded, not only with the French and Russian Governments but also with the Danish Government, whose consent would also be necessary before any modification could be introduced. I am unable to trace the words in the preamble of this Treaty to which my hon. Friend refers. As regards the general principle involved, I can only say that for the present it would be impracticable to hold a plebiscite of the Greek people, and that, in my judgment, all such questions as are here raised should be postponed for the present and perhaps till the end of the War.
§ Mr. McNEILLCan my Noble Friend say that no steps will be taken which will preclude the Greek people from eventually being consulted?
§ Lord R. CECILI cannot imagine what steps we could take to preclude that. Personally, I certainly cannot imagine that the British Government, with all the traditions of the British Constitution behind them, desiring—[Interruption.]—I am speaking to loyal Members opposite—[Interruption.]—I cannot imagine that the British Government, in the circumstances, would take any steps to prevent the free expression of the Greek people on any domestic affair.
§ Mr. DEVLINIn view of this stupendous change in favour of democracy indicated in the question which has just been put, will the Noble Lord take notice of the latter part of the question, and, by omitting the word "Greek" and putting the word "Irish," give us an answer?
§ Mr. McNEILLWill not the Government, both in the cases of Greece and Ireland, follow the precedent of the plebiscite of 1863 for Greece?
§ Lord R. CECILI have nothing to do, I am glad to say, with the Irish question.
§ Mr. DEVLINSupposing we come to an arrangement with the hon. Gentleman 1397 (Mr. E. McNeill) so that he gets what he wants in Greece, shall we get what we want in Ireland?
§ Lord R. CECILI would like to see you come to an arrangement with the hon. Gentleman on any subject.
§ 13. Mr. R. McNEILLasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will publish the text of the Note presented by M. Jonnart to the Greek Government demanding the abdication of King Constantine, referred to by M. Zaimis in his reply thereto on the 12th of June; whether the full demand of M. Jonnart has been formally complied with by King Constantine; whether King Constantine was requested or empowered by the representative of the protecting Powers to nominate his successor; whether he has formally renounced all his rights to the throne; whether the Crown Prince has formally renounced all his rights to the succession; and what arrangement has been made as to the future domicile of King Constantine and his family?
§ Lord R. CECILI have not yet received the text of the Note, and cannot therefore safely reply to the first five parts of the question. The point raised in the last part of the question is still under discussion.
§ Mr. McNEILLWill the Noble Lord be able to give information to the House soon as to the renunciation by the Grown Prince and as to the whole position with regard to the dynasty?
§ Lord R. CECILI can assure my hon. Friend that we shall certainly be delighted to give all the information we possess as soon as we can get it, subject, of course, to international considerations that may arise.
§ Mr. SNOWDENIs Russia, as one of the protecting Powers, co-operating with Great Britain and France in what is being done in Greece?
§ Lord R. CECILI should like notice of that question.
§ Mr. OUTHWAITEAre we to understand that the Noble Lord has had no knowledge of what is going on in Greece and is unable to reply to these questions?
§ Lord R. CECILI hope the House will not understand anything of the kind. It is common knowledge that the object of the appointment of M. Jonnart as High Commissioner for the Allies was to enable him to act with decision and rapidity, and 1398 without consulting the Home Government at every stage and on every detail. That has, in fact, taken place, and the result has been satisfactory.
§ 16. Mr. LYNCHasked whether, in the event of M. Venizelos desiring to extend his influence over the whole of Greece, obstacles will be placed in his way?
§ Lord R. CECILIf, as we hope, Greek unity is re-established by recent events in Greece, this question will not arise.
§ 19. Mr. LYNCHasked whether any diplomatic correspondence has revealed any encouragement given at any time by the Greek Government to Irregular Greek troops engaged in unfriendly acts towards the troops of the Allies?
§ Lord R. CECILNo, Sir. I cannot go as far as that, though a certain number of Greek officers of the Regular Army were concerned with the operations of Irregular bands in Thessaly.
§ 20. Mr. LYNCHasked whether the Allies will oppose any movement which expresses the general will of the Greek people to establish a Republic; and, if so, upon what grounds?
§ Lord R. CECILI do not think that anything is to be gained by discussing a hypothetical question of this kind.
§ Mr. LYNCHIs it necessarily hypothetical that Greece should set up a Republic? Why should not Greece march in the way of progress?
§ Lord R. CECILThere is nothing abusive in the epithet "hypothetical." It is merely a grammatical statement of the effect of the hon. Member's question.
§ 21. Mr. LYNCHasked whether, after the massacre of British and French blue jackets in the streets of Athens last December, any burial rites were accorded to their remains; whether any military salutes were given by the King's troops at their funeral; whether any distinctive memorials mark their grave; and, if not, whether any representations on the subject were ever made to the Greek Government by the British Ambassador?
§ Lord R. CECILThe bodies of the British sailors and marines who lost their lives on the occasion referred to were handed over to the British naval authori- 1399 ties for burial. As the hon. Member is aware, the Greek Government tendered official apologies for the attack upon the Allied detachments, and representative Greek regiments were publicly paraded for the object of saluting the Allied flags.
§ Lord R. CECILI am sorry I have not yet been able to obtain information on that point. I will make it my business to do so.