THE LORD BISHOP OF CHICHESTERMy Lords, I beg to ask a question of which private notice has been given—namely, whether the attention of His Majesty's Government has been called to certain statements which have been widely circulated to the effect that the first shipments of relief foodstuffs dispatched from Turkey to Greece in the autumn of 1941 were sent entirely on Turkish initiative and in defiance of the wishes of His Majesty's Government; whether they will make a statement on the subject, also whether His Majesty's Government are able to give any information as to future prospects with regard to food relief in countries now being, or about to be, liberated.
§ THE MINISTER OF ECONOMIC WARFARE (THE EARL OF SELBORNE)My Lords, in reply to the question of the right reverend Prelate my attention has been called to a number of statements of the kind to which he has referred. These statements are to the general effect that the first shipments of relief foodstuffs to Greece which were dispatched from Turkey were purchased and shipped on the initiative of the Turkish Government, and were sent to Greece contrary to the wishes of His Majesty's Government. In other words it has been suggested that the Turkish authorities decided to ignore the British blockade and to organize these shipments in defiance of the British Government. I wish to make it quite clear that these statements, though no doubt made in good faith, are without the slightest foundation in fact.
In the late summer of 1941 it became clear that as a result of the ravages of war and the maladministration of the occupying Powers a condition of famine was likely to arise in Greece, especially in the cities and islands. Then, as now, it 76 was contrary to the policy of His Majesty's Government to relieve the enemy of his responsibility by permitting foodstuffs to be shipped to enemy-occupied territories from overseas. We were, however, prepared to allow and even to facilitate the purchase of relief foodstuffs from neutral countries inside the blockade area, provided that such foodstuffs were of a type which the neutral countries concerned did not import through our Controls and that no financial advantage was obtained by the enemy. Accordingly, in July, 1941, His Majesty's Ambassador at Angora was instructed to consult urgently with the Greek Ambassador and with the local representatives of the United Kingdom Commercial Corporation regarding the possibility of purchasing foodstuffs in Turkey for shipment to Greece. On August 20, 1941, the Turkish Ministry of Commerce agreed, at the request of His Majesty's Commercial Attaché, to issue licences to the U.K.C.C. for 50,000 tons of various foodstuffs. On August 26, 1941, £100,000 was remitted to the U. K.C.C. representative at Istanbul for this purpose. Unfortunately, in view of the acute shortage of shipping in Turkish ports, considerable difficulty was experienced in obtaining a suitable vessel. Eventually, however, arrangements were made to charter the s.s. "Kurtulus," the necessary funds being advanced by His Majesty's Government. It was agreed that the Greek War Relief Association incorporated in the United States should reimburse the expenditure by the U.K.C.C. through the Greek Government in London.
The s.s. "Kurtulus" made monthly voyages to Athens carrying a cargo of about 2,000 tons on each voyage. It was accompanied on each occasion by representatives of the Turkish Red Crescent. In December, 1941, the United Kingdom Commercial Corporation were authorized by His Majesty's Government to increase their expenditure up to approximately £550,000. Efforts were also made to obtain the allocation of another Turkish ship but unfortunately this proved impossible. Indeed, the shortage of shipping at this time had become so serious that in order to compensate the Turkish Government for the s.s. "Kurtulus" it was necessary for His Majesty's Government to undertake to make a ship available for the carriage of Turkish cargoes from 77 Egypt In January, 1942, the s.s. "Kurtulus" went aground and became a total loss. Following representations by His Majesty's Government and the Greek Government the Turkish Government agreed to replace her by the s.s. "Dulumpinar" which made six voyages between Turk and Greece. Although it did rot prove possible to continue regular shipments of Turkish foodstuffs, it was agreed by His Majesty's Government and the United States Government early in 1942 to mice a special exception in the case of Greece and to allow relief foodstuffs to be dispatched from overseas.
The total cost to date of sending these supplies from Turkey, including the cost of chartering the ships, amounts to about £1,513,000, and in addition wheat from Palestine to the value of £488,000 has been sent. Of this sum we have been reimbursed to the extent of £307,000 by the Greek War Relief Association Incorporated, which has undertaken to pay approximately a further £40,000. The Greek Government have paid £50,000. The balance of £1,644,000 represents an advance by His Majesty's Government to the Greek Government. I regret having had to deal with this matter at such length. I wish to acknowledge the part that was played by the Greek Government, by the Creek War Relief Association Incorporated in the United States, and by the Turkish Red Crescent and the Turkish Govern Went. But for the sake of historical accuracy I wish to place it on record that these relief shipments were initiated, organized and in the first place financed by His Majesty's Government.
In reply to the latter part of the question the right reverend Prelate asked, I assured him some months ago when he raised the question of relief here that His Majesty's Government would watch the situation closely and, as it changed, we should be prepared to modify our arrangements ant reconsider the situation in any new light. The situation is changing, and when I tell him that His Majesty's Government are prepared to modify any arrangements that changed circumstances may render possible it is no idle promise on my part. As soon as it is possible to afford relief to liberated territories in Europe or to afford any relief to the peoples of Europe without damaging the 78 war effort, His Majesty's Government will be only too glad to do so.