§ 38. Lieut.-Commander Hutchisonasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Economic Warfare whether he is satisfied that the consignments of foodstuffs sent to Greece for the relief of famine have been of benefit only to our Allies and not to the enemy; and, if so, will he be prepared to permit further quantities of foodstuffs for the relief of Greek children to pass through the blockade.
§ The Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Economic Warfare (Mr. Dingle Foot)According to my latest information, the relief foodstuffs shipped to Greece continue to reach the Greek population, and have not been diverted by the enemy. It does not follow, however, that the enemy derives no indirect benefit from these shipments. Indeed, as I explained in the Debate on l0th November last, we have no doubt that the action of the Allied Governments concerned in sending foodstuffs to Greece has been of some advantage to the occupying authorities, though in this particular case we think that the assistance to our friends outweighs the assistance to the enemy. As regards the second part of the Question, I am not at present in a position to add anything to the answer which I gave on 8th February to my hon. Friend the Member for the English Universities (Mr. E. Harvey).
§ Mr. SorensenIs it true that if this food had not been sent to Greece all that would have happened would have been that more Greeks would have died through starvation?
§ Sir T. MooreHas our action in this case actually relieved Greek people from starvation?
§ Mr. FootYes, I think that our action has been of considerable assistance to the Greek people; but it must be borne in mind that it has been of some assistance to the enemy.