GREEKS AT WAR.

Taranaki Daily News, 4 December 1922, Page 5

GREEKS AT WAR.

SOME SECRET HISTORY. ATTITUDE OF BRITAIN. DOCUMENTS REVEALED. By Telegraph.—Press Aasn.—Copyright. Received Dee. 3, 5.5 p.m. Paris, Dee. 1. The newspaper Le Matip has begun the, publication of the secret history of the Greek operations in Asia Minor, its Athens correspondent transmitting a series of letters alleged to be from M. Venizelos when in London in 1920 to the Greek Foreign Minister, and purporting to communicate the tenor of conversations with British Cabinet Ministers.

The letters declare the military policy was based on proposals made by Mr. Lloyd George, and mention the latter’s difficulties in consequence of the Turco-ph’ilism of the British Foreign Minister and military circles, but the documents in nowise show that the , British egged the Greeks on. On the contrary the British counselled them to take careful stock of the position. Le Matin comments that the duplicity displayed in this secret htetorj r is revolting, when it is remembered it was instigated by the author of the Versailles Treaty. Mr. Lloyd George, with the assistance of a Greek Minister afflicted with megalomania, conducted the Greek people to disaster, nearly destroyed the Entente, divided Europe and brought on war. The most important document is dated London, June 15, 1920, and headsed: “Absolutely personal; to be decod'ed by the Minister himself.” M. Venizelos, in hie despatch, says: “Mr. Lloyd George informed me it was impossible to count on Italy, which would probably be glad if the treaty of peace with Turkey was not executed.” Mr. Lloyd George added that M. Millerand was sincere, but French public opinion would object to sending an army to Turkey in order to impose the conditions of peace. Mr. Lloyd George is also confronted by difficulties coming from his own Foreign Office and military circles, which are still inspired by a pro-Turk spirit. M. Venizelos added: “Subsequently Mr. Lloyd George asked me if Greece had the will to make the necessary military efforts to impose peace upon Turkey, and without hesitation I re-, plied that Greece had the necessary force. Mr. Lloyd George asked me to convince him that the British General Staff had over-estimated the value of the Turkish resistance.” M. Venizelos concluded: “I hope to occupy in Turkey a place equal to the great Powers and to obtain supervicion of the Straits.” Other documents show that Mr. Winston Churchill and the late Field Marshal Sir Henry Wilson warned M. Venizelos to carefully reckon up the Greek forces in order that they should not assume a task which might he too heavy. M. Venizelos also telegraphed the Greek Foreign Minister after the Boulogne conference, stating he had succeeded in getting Mr. Lloyd George to adopt Ids proposals for dismembering Turkey, which would thus be reduced to the plateau of Anatolia.