HC Deb 08 May 1919 vol 115 cc1108-9
7. Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHY

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if the British troops in the Caucasus have been in action lately with Georgian levies; and what is the position politically of these Georgian troops?

Mr. CHURCHILL

The British troops in the Caucasus have not been in action against the Georgians at any time. The situation is that Georgians attacked General Denikin's detachments on the Bzib River south of Gagri and drove them back beyond the Mekhadir River (north of Gagri), on which river they halted. This advance was made in spite of protests of the British Commander-in-Chief. The Georgians implicated were accompanied by local bandits and Bolsheviks. A threat of force, by the dispatch of British troops to Gagri, has stopped any further action.

Lieutenant-Commander KENWORTHY

May I ask if the Georgean Republic has plenipotentiaries in Paris at the Peace Conference?

Mr. CHURCHILL

I do not know about that at all, but we are not allowing General Denikin to attack the Georgians and we are not allowing the Georgians to attack General Denikin.

Lieutenant-Commander KENWORTHY

I beg to give notice that I will raise this question on the Adjournment to-night.

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