THE BRITISH PARLIAMENT

Hokitika Guardian, 9 December 1922, Page 3

THE BRITISH PARLIAMENT

lUSTRAI.IAN AND N.Z. GABLE ASSOCIATION LORDS DISCUSSION. LONDON. Dee. 7. Lord Birkenhead, speaking in the House of Lords, drew attention t« the statement that correspondence had i passed between Lord Curzon and M. Gounaris (Greek Premier), in which the Greek Government, it is alleged, informed the British Foreign Secretary (Curzon) that they could not maintain their position in Asia Minor without liiiaiiei.nl aid, and unless they received machine guns and aeroplanes. They declared: "If the British Government is unable to give such assistance, let us know in time, so that wo may withdraw.’’ Lord Birkenhead said that this letter, if authentic, was never communicated to the Cabinet. Otherwise the tragedy of the Greek defeat in Anatolia and the execution of the Greek Ministers might have been averted. Lord Salisbury deprecated any attack mi Lord Curzon. Tie declared that Lord Birkettlie.il might have been left in ignorance. Mr Lloyd George had shared Sic responsibility, as was j shown by bis speech in the Mouse of Commons on the lib of August. SECRET DIPLOMACY. LONDON, Dee. 8. Parliamentary Lobby opinion takes a. very serious view of the C’urzonCounsris correspondence, an explanation of which is awaited anxiously. Lord Birkenhead said M. Counnris’s letter to the British Foreign Secretary (Curzon) asked asked for reinforcements sufficient to raise the Greek uniCs to full strength, and thus i neutralise the Turkish superiority in numbers.

In a series of cross questions with Lord Salisbury. Lord Birkenhead added that, he had a copy ol Lord Curz;in’s reply to M. Gounaris, wlTich he proceeded to read as follows:—"T cun only express the hope that the mrfftarv position in Anatolia is less immediately critical than your note leads me to think. I (rust the remarkable pa 1 riotism and discipline of the flelk cnic armies, of which there have been so unity illustrations in the lasi few yen’s, will not fail them in the enrc!gency.” ! ord Curzon went on to refer to the failure of the Greek Government to raise a loan in London. • Me said the British ('• ivcmi-.piit lias endeavoured to assist the negotiations. The failure was due to commercial o'ist.a:■! ■.« rather than political aspects. In these circumstances, the wisest course would lie to expedite a diplomatic solution of the anxious position in which all were placed. Lord Curzon said—"l have hastened to propose that a conference he held in Paris on March 12. to. discuss Anatolia. Your Government has already placed itself, in accordance with the advice I teudered in the autumn, in the hands of the Allies. I do not dotdit that, in a similar spirit of confidence and good faith, you will lie prepared to listen to Mu’ counsels offered you in Paris.” At th.e end of l.ord Curzon’s letter. Lord Birkenhead said:—“lf that advice doesn’t, mean “stay in .Anatolia, at least for present,” then words have no meaning. If the Cabinet laid had the opportunity of discussing this correv |>endeiue. I would have advised that Greece should withdraw lioiii Asia Minor immediately, and thus have saved the ghastly tragedy and saved the lives of the Greek Ministers.

Lord Salisbury retorted:—"lt is evident that the noble Lord’s object is to attack Lord Curzon, but Lord Birkenhead was also responsible as a nieniher of the Government. Lord Birkenhead said :—“The documents were never sent to me. They are not letters one could receive and forget.” The discussion then ended. M" Grieg als : raised the question of i’ e Gouiinris-C'urzon correspondence in the House of Commons, inquiring whether it had lieon considered by. iiic late Cabinet, and, to the evident astonishment of at least two cx-M.iuis ters. Mr Bonar Law replied that ties’ letters had been communicated to the late Cabinet. Mr AsqiiiMi requested that the papers by tabled. Mr Lloyd George pressed Mr Bonar Lew to say whether li” had inquired if ihe documents had reached the late (l.diiuet members. Mr Bonar Low replied that the Foreign Office had reii’irted the correspondence had been circulated to the members of the Cabinet. Mr Chamberlain said c mne of us were very surprised to hear that Hiu documents were circulated, though uiir memories may lie faulty!” Mr Itoivii' Law adhered to the statement # from the Foreign Office.