§ 35. Commander BELLAIRSasked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether any other country besides Great Britain has withdrawn the representative Minister from Athens; and, if so, will he specify the names of these countries?
§ The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for FOREIGN AFFAIRS (Mr. Ronald McNeill)I am not aware that any but the British Minister has been withdrawn. The Italian Minister is actually attending the Conference at Lausanne, but the Italian Chargé d'Affaires at Athens has been instructed to refrain from all relations with the Greek Government.
§ Mr. C. BUXTONHas the hon. Gentleman's attention been called to an allegation in the Press that before the British Minister was withdrawn, and after the arrest of M. Gournaris, a representative of the British Legation demanded from the Greek authorities the return of certain documents, said to be correspondence between M. Gournaris and the British Legation, which had been seized at his house?
§ Mr. SPEAKERA question of that kind should be put on the Notice Paper.
§ 36. Brigadier-General SPEARSasked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, in view of the fact that the British Minister has been withdrawn from Athens, the Government considers it advisable, as a further protest against the action of the Greek Government, to with draw also the British naval and military missions in Athens?
§ Mr. McNEILLThe question of the withdrawal of the British naval mission is still under consideration. There is no British military mission at Athens.
§ Captain BERKELEYDoes the withdrawal of this mission signify a rupture of diplomatic relations, or merely a suspension of diplomatic relations?
§ Mr. McNEILLAs I have already told the House, the question of the withdrawal of the mission has not been decided. It is under consideration.
§ Lieut. - Commander KENWORTHYMay we take it that the Consulate Service is still functioning in Greece, and will continue to do so?
§ Mr. McNEILLAs far as I am aware, that is so.
§ 47. Commander BELLAIRSasked the Prime Minister whether the decision to withdraw our Minister from Athens was taken in accordance with the policy of common action with our European Allies; and, if so, whether the French and Italian Ministers have now been withdrawn?
§ The PRIME MINISTER (Mr. Bonar Law)In regard to the first part of the question, I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the reply which I gave to a question on this subject on the 30th November. In regard to the second part of the question, I would refer to the reply already given to my hon. and gallant Friend by the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs.
§ Sir H. BRITTAINWill the right hon. Gentleman consider the reinstatement of our representative in Greece after the General Election there?
§ The PRIME MINISTERThis matter will be considered when the time comes.
§ Mr. W. THORNEIs not the withdrawal of our Minister from Athens a vote of censure on the Greek Government?
§ 56. Colonel WEDGWOODasked the Prime Minister, whether the instruction to Mr. Lindley to threaten the breaking off of relations with Greece was sent as a result of a Cabinet decision or was part of the normal routine of the Foreign Office; and what were the special reasons which induced such action?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the answer which I gave on 30th November to the hon. Member for Springburn (Mr. Hardie).
§ Colonel WEDGWOODBut I did not get an answer on that date. The question I put on the Paper is as to whether the 1182 instruction sent to Mr. Lindley was the result of a Cabinet decision, or by the Foreign Office without such decision?
§ The PRIME MINISTERThe hon. and gallant Gentleman has been long enough a Member of the House to know that the action of the Government is a corporate responsibility. I might say now, that this was before the Cabinet and it was a Cabinet decision. But we cannot always give an answer of that kind at the time.