§ 17. Mr. Parkerasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware that the Greek Civil Service is to be purged by the Government and that all State employees are to vote at special 72W polling booths at the plebiscite; and whether he will take steps to prevent discrimination against those who vote against the King.
Mr. Noel-BakerI am aware that the Greek Parliament is considering a measure for the purge of the Civil Service. There are, no doubt, possibilities of abuse in such a measure, however necessary it may be to reorganise the Civil Service or to reduce the numbers of its personnel. But the late Monsieur Venizelos abolished the spoils system in Greece, and His Majesty's Government believe that any Greek Government would be most reluctant to incur the odium which its re-introduction would involve. His Majesty's Government earnestly hope that the changes made in the Civil Service will be based on considerations of professional merit and efficiency alone, and that all political discrimination will be avoided. There has been no suggestion of special polling booths for public employees. The ballot will be secret and discrimination of the kind feared by my hon. Friend should be impossible.