§ 1. Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs why it was necessary for Greek troops to land at Smyrna and to advance inland; and what is the Allied policy with regard to Smyrna?
§ The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for FOREIGN AFFAIRS (Mr. Cecil Harmsworth)As regards the first part of the question, I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the reply which I gave to a similar question by the hon. and gallant Member for Yeovil on 26th May, to which I have nothing to add. As regards the second part of the question, no statement can usefully be made at a time when the Turkish settlement is still under consideration by representatives of the Allied and Associated Powers.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYWill the hon. Gentleman make some declaration to pacify our Moslem subjects on this question, as there is great unrest in India and elsewhere among perfectly loyal Moslems?
§ Mr. HARMSWORTHThere is another question relating to that matter later on.
3. Lieut.-Colonel AUBREY HERBERTasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the Greek massacres at Smyrna have caused and are causing grave unrest in India and Egypt; and what steps His Majesty's Government propose to take to allay the anxiety in these countries with regard to the future of Smyrna?
§ Mr. HARMSWORTHReports of massacres are calculated to cause anxiety and distress everywhere, particularly among peoples of the same religion or race. But I have not seen any special evidence of "grave unrest" having been 1134 caused in the countries mentioned by the hon. and gallant Member owing to the reports in question.
Lieut.-Colonel HERBERTAre massacres to be no impediment to the acquisition of property in future, and can the hon. Gentleman say what other populations are to be handed over to the Greeks for massacre?