§ Mr. LANSBURY(by Private Notice) asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, in view of Press reports of death sentences executed upon participants in the recent rebellion in Greece, he can say what progress is being made towards a restoration of normal conditions in that country?
§ Sir J. SIMONI welcome this opportunity of making a brief statement on this subject. On 13th March His Majesty's Minister was instructed to inform the Greek Government that His Majesty's Government in the United 35 Kingdom had learnt with great satisfaction that internal peace had been reestablished in Greece; and that they desired the Greek Government and nation to know that the difficulties of Greece had their sympathy, and that it was now their earnest hope that domestic peace in Greece might prevail, her wounds be healed, and progress towards prosperity resumed. On the 19th March Mr. Waterlow was further instructed to acquaint the Greek Government, in the form of friendly advice, that nothing could at that critical moment do more to enhance their prestige abroad than clemency and moderation towards the defeated rebels, and that executions could only exacerbate and perpetuate domestic strife. This advice was received in the same friendly manner as that in which it had been offered, and there appeared grounds for hoping that normal conditions would be restored without the exercise of great severity. Although, so far as I am aware, only three death sentences have been carried out, recent reports from His Majesty's Minister indicate an anxiety that they may be followed by many more. It is not for His Majesty's Government to judge the merits of individual cases, but the traditional friendship of this country for Greece entitles His Majesty's Government to express the hope that the Greek Government will see their way to exercise clemency and to limit capital sentences as far as possible, in the interests both of general appeasement and the good name of Greece abroad. This view is expressed without any regard whatever to the merits of the acts or policies of any particular parties or persons in Greece, and will, I think, commend itself to this House as a whole.