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EAGER TO FIGHT.

GREEK ARMY MOBILISES REVENGE ON TURKS. READY FOR A RUPTURE By Telegraph.—Press Assn—Copyright. Received Deo. 8, 7.40 p.m. London. Dec. 8. The Athens corrospondenr of the Daily Express states the Greek Govern ment, with a. reorganised army, i« eagerly watching for the moment when Britain will break off negotiations with the Turks and lend the Greeks her moral support. With this in view the Greek army has mobilised. General Panghalos, interviewed, said; Greece is prepared, should a rupture in| the negotiations come, to attack the: Turks immediately. He added: “Our; men long for revenge and we shall beat the. Turks.”—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Aspn. QUESTION OF BRITISH AID. WAS AN APPEAL IGNORED? CORRESPONDENCE REVEALED. Received Dec. 8, 5.5 p.m. London, Dec. 7. In the Houfte of Lords, Lord Birkeihead. drew attention to a staXemeßG that correspondence had passed between Lord Curzon and M. Gounaris in which the Greek Government, it is alleged, informed the Foreign Secretary that they could not maintain their position :n Asia Minor without financial aid, and unless they received machine-guns and aeroplanes.

The letter added: “If the British Gov l ernment is unable to give such assistance let us know in time, that we may withdraw.” Lord Birkenhead said rae letter, if authentic, was never communicated to Cabinet, otherwise the tragedy of the Greek defeat in Anatolia and the execution of Ministers might have been averted. Lord Salisbury deprecated the attack on Lord Curzon, and declared' that Lord Birkenhead might have been left in ignorance. Mr. Lloyd George shared the responsibility, as shown by his speech in the House of Commons on August PROBLEM OF THE STRAITS. TURKS QQMING ROUND. Received Dee. 8, 5.5 p.m. Lausanne, Dec., 7. The general impression prevails that the Turks will accept the Allied and American viewpoint regarding the Straits as a basis for bargaining for something else, especially capitulation’s. M. Gounaris’ letter also asked for reinforcements sufficient to raise the Greek units to full strength, and thus;

neutralise, the Turkish superiority in numbers.

In a series of cross questions with Lord Salisbury, Lord Birkenhead said: “Mr. Lloyd George told me emphatically he had never seen the letters, nor had he.” Lord Birkenhead added that he had a copy of Lord Curzon’s reply to the late M. Gounaris, which he proceeded to read as follows: “T can only express the hope that tho military position in Anatolia is less immediately critical than your note leads me to think. I trust the remarkable patriotism and discipline of the Hellenic armies, of which there have been so many illustrations in the last few years, will not fail them in an emergency.” Lord Curzon went on to refer to tho failure of the Greek Government to raise a loan ’ in London, and said the British Government had endeavored to assist the negotiations. The failure was due to commercial obstacles rather than political aspects. In these circumstances the wisest course would be no expedite the diplomatic solution of an anxious position, in which an are placed. Lord Curzon said: “I have hastenp<l to propose n. conference, to be held in Paris on March 13, to discuss Anatolia. Your Government has already placed itself, in accordance with the advice I tendered in the autumn, in the hands of the Allies. I do not doubt that in a similar spirit of confidence and good faitli you will be prepared to listen to .the counsels offered you in Paris,” At the end of Lord Curzon’s letter, Lord Birkenhead said: “If that advice does not mean a stay in Anatolia, at least for the present, words hate no meaning. If Cabinet had had the opportunity of discussing the correspondence I would have advised Greece should withdraw from Asia Minor immediately, and thus saved the ghastly tragedy and saved the lives of Greek Ministeis.

Lord Salisbury retorted: “It is evident the noble Lord’s object Is to attack Lord Curzon, but Lord Birkenhead is also responsible as a member of the Government.’’ Lord Birkenhead said: “The documents were never sent me. They are not letters one could receive and forget.” Tlie discussion then ended. Colonel Grigg also raised the question of the Gounaris-Cnrzon correspondence in the House of Commons, inquiring whether it had been consiilered by the late Cabinet, and to the evident astonishment. at least of two ex-Minis-ters, Mr. Bonar Law replied that, the letters had been communicated to tne late Cabinet. Mr. Asquith requested that the papers be tabled. Mr. Lloyd George pressed Mr. Bonar Law Io say whether he had inquired If the documents had reached the Tate Cabinet members. Mr. Bonar Law replied that tho Foreign Office had reported that the correspondence had been circulated to members of the Cabinet. Mr. Chamberlain said “Some of ur .were very surprised to hear tho documents were ciroulatcd. though our memories may be faulty. Mr. Bonar Law adhered to tho statement from the Foreign Office. Lobby opinion takes a very serious view of the Curzon-Gounaris correspondence, the explanation of which is awaited anxiously.

Permanent link to this item
Hononga pūmau ki tēnei tūemi

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/TDN19221209.2.45

Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka

Taranaki Daily News, 9 December 1922, Page 5

Word count
Tapeke kupu
834

EAGER TO FIGHT. Taranaki Daily News, 9 December 1922, Page 5

EAGER TO FIGHT. Taranaki Daily News, 9 December 1922, Page 5

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