HELPING GREECE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 26 April 1941, Page 5

HELPING GREECE

NEW ZEALAND CONSULTED BEFORE TROOPS WERE SENT. RESPONSIBILITY ACCEPTED. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON. This Day. In a statement on Thursday regarding the dispatch of New Zealand troops to Greece, the Prime Minister (Mr Fraser) said: — “The news from the armies in Greece shows once again that the New Zealand Division with the Australians has made a magnificent fight against unparalleled odds. They arc still facing difficult days, but we are/ assured that steps are being taken to ensure that everything that can be done to assist them is being done. “The decision to reinforce the armies of Greece came after receiving the evidence of German concentrations in Rumania, Bulgaria, and on the frontiers of Greece. “The Greeks, by their fighting in Albania, had stemmed the overwhelming numerical superiority of the Italian army. Assisted by the Royal Air Force and the Royal Navy, they had driven the Italians from Greek soil, and were progressing to the occupation of Albania. This action, holding off as it did the menace to our positions in Egypt and the Middle East, enabled our forces io carry out their successful campaign in Africa. MILITARY ADVICE. “On the evidence of the preparation of our enemy, Germany, to attack Greece, it was essential that we should come to her aid. I wish to make it plain that the New Zealand Government had been fully consulted with reference to the dispatch of New Zealand troops to Greece, and that we fully accepted our share of the responsibility for the decision that was taken. "The whole matter was laid before us in the fullest detail by the British Government. with the views of British Ministers (including Mr Eden, who was in the Middle East at the time), and the British chiefs of staff, and in particular Sir John Dill (Chief of the British General Staff), General Wavell (Commandei’-in-Chief, British Forces, Middle East), Admiral Sir Andrew Cunningham (Commander-in-Chief, Mediterranean), and Air Chief Marshal Sir Arthur Longbore (Air Officer Com-mander-in-Chief R.A.F., Middle East), who were considering the problem on the spot. We also had’the opportunity of exchanging views on the matter with the Australian Government.

“Every aspect of the proposed operation was placed before us and was fully considered by us, and we came to the conclusion, on the most competent military advice available that while the prospects of effective resistance to German aggression were reasonable, though hazardous, every consideration of honour impelled us to take all steps within our power to assist the gallant Greek army and people whose resistance to Italian aggression had won the admiration of the world. ONLY POSSIBLE COURSE. “After the most anxious consideration we concurrtd with the unanimous view of the British Government and their military advisers, including our own commander (Major-General B. C. Freyberg) that the operations should be undertaken. This conclusion was arrived at unanimously by all the members of the War Cabinet and all the members of the ordinary Cabinet and was approved as the only possible course in the difficult circumstances by the Leader of the Opposition, who was specially consulted on the matter by myself. “I wish to take this opportunity of assuring the people that the enterprise was not lightly undertaken by the British Government or lightly concurred in by the New Zealand Government. 1 know that if we had to face the same situation again we would certainly come to the same decision. I have no doubt at all that the people of New Zealand will fully appreciate the situation, and that they will agree that we took the only course open to us and that any decision to the contrary would have involved eternal dishonour.”