§ Mr. N. BUXTONasked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, at the forthcoming conference on Near Eastern peace at Lausanne, His Majesty's Government will take steps to secure from Turkey recognition of Greek and Armenian claims for compensation for property destroyed at Smyrna?
§ Mr. McNEILLThe whole question of the claims of Greece against Turkey forms part of the general question of reparation as between those two countries, the discussion of which is shortly to be resumed at Lausanne, and His Majesty's Government will exert such influence as they can with a view to obtain due recognition of legitimate claims on either side. As regards Armenian claims, while His Majesty's Government will continue to make every effort to obtain fair treatment for these unfortunate people, it must be borne in mind that, as the Armenians of Turkey will, under present arrangements, remain Ottoman subjects, the question of their claims against the Turkish Government is considered by 2095W that Government to be a matter of Turkish internal policy, in which the Allies have no legal right to intervene.