§ Mr. Tiffanyasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs why His Majesty's Government proposes to send an official of the Ministry of Labour to Greece for the purpose of advising the Greek Government on the work and formation of trade unions; and why His Majesty's Government refuse to accept the validity of the Greek T.U.C., an organisation recognised by the World Federation of Trade Unions.
Mr. Noel-BakerMy hon. Friend will no doubt be aware that the Greek Ministerial Order 24792, under the provisions of which the provisional governing body of the Greek Confederation of Labour was appointed, has been declared illegal by the Greek Council of State's decision on an appeal lodged against the order by the trade union leader, M. Makris. The result appears to be that the Greek Trade Union Movement must now revert to its position in February, 1945, and must, therefore, frame machinery for trade union elections and must form a new provisional executive body.
His Majesty's Government are anxious to encourage the growth of strong trade unions in Greece and are as a result most concerned at the present stalemate. The question whether His Majesty's Government can in any way assist the Greek Labour organisations and the Greek Government to find a solution to their present difficulties is at present under consideration.
It is not for His Majesty's Government either to accept or reject the validity of the Greek Confederation of Labour, which is an internal matter for the Greek people to work out for themselves. The Greek Government recognise the validity 53W of the confederation, though not of its present governing body, and His Majesty's Government are glad to offer any assistance which they can both to the Greek Government and to the confederation.