§ 50. Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYasked the Prime Minister whether he can report any further progress in the negotiations for bringing about peace in Asia Minor: whether a meeting has been arranged in principle between the Turks and the Greeks in the presence of Allied representatives: where this meeting will be held and when; and whether Greek warships will be permitted to continue to interfere with seaborne traffic to Turkey while the negotiations are in progress?
§ The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for FOREIGN AFFAIRS (Mr. Cecil Harmsworth)The question of a meeting between representatives of the Allied Governments and of the Governments of Athens. Constantinople and Angora is still under discussion and it is hoped that pro-gress will be made. As regards the last part of the question, His Majesty's Government see no reason to reconsider their recognition of the belligerent right of search, which under international law is the corollary of the admission of the neutral right of private trade in arms. The exercise of belligerent rights is not suspended by the initiation of negotiations unless this is specially provided for 1911 by the terms of an armistice. The Greek Government have, however, declared their intention of only stopping absolute contraband of war.