HC Deb 23 June 1943 vol 390 cc1134-5
8. Mrs. Cazalet Keir

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will consider an approach to the Italian Government through the Protecting Power for safe conduct for a ship to evacuate Greek children from Greece, and to arrange for their reception in the British Empire?

Mr. Eden

In December, 1941, at the height of the famine in Greece, His Majesty's Government, in consultation with the Greek Government, formulated a scheme for the evacuation of substantial numbers of Greek children. It was proposed to house them in various parts of the British Empire, and arrangements for their reception were made accordingly. It was, of course, necessary to obtain the consent of the Italian Government. After prolonged discussions, however, the Italians rejected the scheme, stating that they could not agree to Greek children being sent to any part of the British Empire. His Majesty's Government and the Greek Government then arranged with the Egyptian Government for the permanent reception of a smaller number of Greek children in Egypt. For this a safe-conduct for the ship which should take the children from Greece to Egypt was necessary, but I regret to inform the House that the Italian Government, after very considerable delay, again refused to grant this. His Majesty's Government and the Greek Government have therefore had to abondon the whole project.

Mr. Lipson

Does my right hon. Friend think that the Italian Government might be willing, in view of the changed circumstances, to take a different view?

Mr. Eden

I think our experience in this matter shows that the attitude of the Italian Government on this question is far from humanitarian.