§ 59. Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYasked the Prime Minister whether any influence, direct or indirect, has been brought to bear by His Majesty's Government upon the Government, Provisional Government, or Revolutionary Government of Greece to prevent a Republic being set up or to retain the present dynasty upon the throne Of Greece; and what is the attitude of His Majesty's Government towards the question of possible changes in the system of government in Greece?
§ The PRIME MINISTERThe answer to the first part of this question is in the negative. As regards the second part, this is hypothetical and I am not in a position to reply to it.
§ 62. Mr. LAMBERTasked the Prime Minister whether any evidence exists in any Government Department, or whether he has knowledge, that any British Minister gave any encouragement to the Greeks to pursue a policy in Asia Minor which led to their defeat and for which Greek Ministers have been shot?
§ The PRIME MINISTERThe policy or policies which led to the defeat of the Greek Army are very obscure and controversial, and it is impossible to deal with it by question and answer.
§ Mr. LAMBERTWill the Prime Minister give a definite answer to the definite question—whether any British Minister gave any encouragement to the Greeks to pursue a policy in Asia Minor which led to their defeat and for which Greek Ministers have been shot?
§ The PRIME MINISTERIn so far as this is a definite question, I have no knowledge of anything of the kind to which the right hon. Gentleman has referred, except what has appeared in public statements.
§ Mr. LAMBERTHas the right hon. Gentleman made any inquiries in any Government Department?
§ The PRIME MINISTERSurely the right hon. Gentleman does not think that we are going to go back through all the files for some years in order to find out something which is quite indefinite?
§ Mr. HARRISWill the right hon. Gentleman ask for papers?
§ The PRIME MINISTERWe do not know exactly what papers.
§ 70. Mr. W. THORNEasked the Prime Minister whether the Members of the late Government gave any encouragement in any way to the Greek Government to pursue their policy of aggression before the retreat of the Greek Army; and if he will take action in the matter?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI know nothing beyond what was contained in the public statements which have been made from time to time.
§ Mr. THORNEIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that a number of newspapers have recently definitely stated that the late Government backed up the Greeks in their policy?
§ The PRIME MINISTERIt is no use referring to possible papers until we know what those papers are.
Captain BENNIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that it has been stated in the Press that a certain packet of papers was asked for by the British representative in Athens, and will he publish those papers?
§ The PRIME MINISTERBut did we get them?
§ Mr. T. SHAWHas the Prime Minister's attention been drawn to the fact that the Press report that the ex-Prime Minister has stated that Greeks had been sent into Turkey and that the present Prime Minister was one of those equally responsible with the other members of the Cabinet?
§ The PRIME MINISTERThis is the first I have heard of it.
75. Lieut.-Colonel MURRAYasked the Prime Minister whether his attention 1184 has been called to the publication of a despatch from M. Venizelos to the Greek Foreign Minister, dated London, 15th June, 1920, in which the former is made to remind the British Prime Minister that the Greek morale was shaken and the Government did not dare to call up the reserve classes, but he thought that when the Greek people knew of the favourable arrangements of the British Premier it would agree to make the necessary military effort; and will he state the nature of the favourable arrangements alluded to in this despatch?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI have been unable to obtain the text of the despatch which M. Venizelos is stated to have sent to his Government on 15th June, 1920, and as we have no knowledge of the despatch I cannot make any statement about it.
Lieut.-Colonel MURRAYIs it not a fact that documents have been published showing that the Greek advance was encouraged by the late British Prime Minister, and is that right hon. Gentleman therefore not responsible?