§ 26. Mr. Parkerasked the First Lord of the Admiralty why the three officers, about 50 non-commissioned officers and 40 sailors involved in the Greek naval incident at Chatham in April last are to be transferred to concentration camps in the Middle East; and whether they will be allowed to join the Resistance Movement in Greece as soon as it is practicable instead.
Mr. AlexanderI cannot accept the assertions made in my hon. Friend's Question. I assume that he refers to the transport of a party of Greek sailors from Chatham to the Eastern Mediterranean, which has been arranged at the request of the Greek Naval Authorities. This party comprises, in addition to reliefs and sick personnel, a number of men who on grounds of discipline the Greek Commander-in-Chief considers should not remain 177 at Chatham. The men are being transferred from Chatham Barracks to the Greek Naval Headquarters in the Middle East, where their cases will be examined. As the men concerned are still members of the Greek Navy, the second part of my hon. Friend's Question does not arise.
§ Mr. ParkerIn view of the fact that about 87 per cent. of the Greek Forces in the Middle East are interned by our Forces surely it is time that something was done to set up a Greek Government under which they can really fight their enemies?
Mr. AlexanderAny question with regard to the Greek Government should be put to the Foreign Office. I would only point out that we might do a great deal of good by helping the Greeks to join in support of the Government set up by a very representative conference of all parties.