§ 33. Lieut.-Colonel ARCHER-SHEEasked the Prime Minister whether he is aware that the Angora Government have been receiving arms and ammunition from the Russian Soviet Bolshevik Republican 26 Revolutionary Government; whether this is an infringement of the trade agreement, in view of the fact that the Angora Government are in a state of war with this country; and, in view of the fact that Article XIII of the Russian trade agreement provides that either party shall be free from the obligation of the agreement if either party shall violate it, he will give the necessary notice asking for an explanation, in accordance with Article XIII.
Mr. CHAMBERLAINIn spite of many rumours to that effect, His Majesty's Government have no definite information that the Turkish Nationalists have been receiving arms and ammunition from the Russian Soviet Government. The occasion, therefore, for the action suggested by my hon. and gallant Friend cannot be said to have arisen.
§ 36. Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYasked the Prime Minister what is the present situation at Constantinople and the Straits; why large British naval forces are being concentrated there; and whether all means of bringing about peace by negotiations have been exhausted?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINAs regards the first part of the question I have nothing to add to the answer which I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Yeovil on 18th April. With regard to the last part of the question, His Majesty's Government have not yet abandoned the hope of bringing about peace between the Greeks and Turks and will lose no opportunity of doing so.
§ Viscount CURZONAre any active steps being taken towards that end?
§ Mr. A. HERBERTWhy, since the Dardanelles have been neutralised, has the Greek Fleet been allowed to go through these neutral waters and bombard open undefended towns on the coast of the Black Sea?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINWithout accepting the allegations of my hon. Friend I think that I may fairly put it to the House that that is a question of which I should have notice. The question to which the hon. and gallant Member (Viscount Curzon) refers is engaging the consideration of His Majesty's Government, but on an occasion of so much delicacy and in which action with the Allied Powers is necessary I would ask 27 the House not to bombard me with questions which may be injurious to the public interest.
§ Colonel WEDGWOODCan we be assured that we are not giving moral support to the Constantine Greeks in these matters?
§ Viscount CURZONHave we a naval attaché with the Greek naval forces at present operating in the Black Sea, and are we getting complete information as to what they are doing?
§ Mr. SPEAKERClearly the hon. Member must give notice of the question.
§ 41. Mr. E. HARMSWORTHasked the Prime Minister whether His Majesty's Government have come to a decision as to whether they intend actively to support King Constantine of Greece in a war against the Turkish Nationalists although the French Government have declared they will help neither in men nor in money?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINThe attitude of His Majesty's Government has throughout been one of strict neutrality between the combatants, and no decision to depart from that attitude has been taken. As stated in reply to an earlier question, His Majesty's Government still hope that in conjunction with their Allies it may be possible to bring about peace between the Greeks and Turks.
§ Mr. HARMSWORTHShould any decision be taken, will this House be consulted before any irrevocable action is taken by the Government?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINI think my hon. Friend knows that the Government have on all occasions sought to take the House into their confidence at the earliest possible moment in these matters. Some measure of discretion must be left to the executive Government. The interests of the country will be properly protected.
§ Colonel WEDGWOODMay not irrevocable action be forced on the Government through a Turkish advance on British troops at present standing behind the Greeks, and will the Government consider the withdrawal of those British troops?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINThat is one reason why executive action must be left to the discretion of the Government.
§ Colonel WEDGWOODWill the Government withdraw their troops, as the French have done?
§ 42. Major GLYNasked the Prime Minister whether he can make any statement in regard to the situation in Asia Minor, especially the attitude that the Government proposes to adopt in the event of the reopening of hostilities between the Greek and Turkish Nationalist forces; what is the present position at Constantinople; and have the British authorities there freedom of independent action under the sole direction of the British Government?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINAs regards the first two parts of the question, I would refer to the answers I have already given to the hon. Member for the Isle of Thanet and to the hon. and gallant Member for Central Hull. The answer to the last part of the question is that while the British authorities at Constantinople are under the sole direction of His Majesty's Government, the policy pursued there by His Majesty's Government is determined in concert with the French and Italian Governments.
§ Mr. T. P. O'CONNORIs it still part of the policy of the Government, as frequently outlined by the Prime Minister, that no body of Christians who have been liberated by treaties shall be given back to the bloodstained government of the Turks?
§ 43. Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYasked the Prime Minister what are the commitments of His Majesty's Government to the Greek Government; and when these will be explained to the House?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINIf the hon. and gallant Member refers to commitments to support Greece against the Kemalists by by military or financial means, I can only inform him that no such commitments exist.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYHave we any commitments in connection with the present troubles in Asia Minor, 29 apart from military or financial support? Are we committed to help the Greeks in certain eventualities?