§ Mr. ORMSBY-GOREasked the Prime Minister whether any reply has yet been received from the Greek Government regarding the recent Allied representations; whether Mr. Franklin Bouillon has brought any representations to the Allies from the Turkish Government at Angora; and whether a temporary armistice has been arranged between the opposing forces in Asia Minor?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINYes, Sir. A reply has been received from the Greek Government within the last 24 hours, the substance of which is as follows
The Note expresses lively thanks for the Allied offer, which the Greek Government have considered most seriously; they fully appreciate and share the sentiments of humanity of 'their great Allies,' and desire to bring about a speedy pacification; this similarity of views is the natural sequence of the common struggle which led to similar situations everywhere; but it is only in the Near East that the sanctions specified in the Treaty, signed by all the Allies and Turkey, have been left pending.Greece is convinced that, in defending her secular aspirations and rights granted her by the Treaty of Sèvres in compensation for her sacrifices, she is also defending the interests of the civilisation of the world in the Eastern Mediterranean and the Straits; conscious of the importance of her double mission, she is, by the extreme exertion of her moral and material strength, on the point of imposing the common decisions of the Allies, which were the original cause of her being sent to Asia Minor. This conception of her duty has led Greece to accept all the sacrifices and to undertake a fresh war against the Turks, who try to escape the application of the Treaty. Military interests alone can now guide her conduct and decisions, and for those im- 1835W perative reasons the Greek Government cannot accept the advice of her great Allies, in spite of her ardent wish to do so, as any postponement of the offensive beyond the date fixed by the High Command must damage the Greek military situation and encourage the enemy to oppose stronger resistance to the behests of the Powers.The sentiments of the Allied Powers of friendship for Greece give the Greek Government confidence that they will appreciate these arguments at their just value, and will recognise that Greece, by continuing the struggle, will place in their hands the most efficacious means of pacifying the Near East; for the only hope of Turkey submitting to the suggestions of the Powers and respecting the rights of sanction by their signature and the interests which they consider worthy of safeguarding can be founded on the influence of military action.Greece will always be ready to listen to her great Allies at any phase of the operations, and she hopes that they will obtain from Turkey concrete proposals for the realisation of Treaty rights and the satisfaction of Greek sacrifices.The Greek Government feel confident that the Allies will remember in their action as mediators the mission of the Greek armies, which were substituted for Allied forces for the execution of part of the common programme, and which will be replaced after the cessation of hostilities by the whole moral force of Hellenism when the new regime in the Near East requires safeguarding; Greece (can maintain?) that part with honour, for she will easily be able to maintain the new status quo once the stipulated guarantees are rigorously applied, and the measures taken which experience has shown to be necessary; the present Turkish resistance is due to the non-application of the Disarmament Clauses of the Armistice.The answer to the remaining parts of the question is in the negative.