THE GREEK DEBACLE

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XLIII, Issue 9745, 11 December 1922, Page 6

THE GREEK DEBACLE

BRITISH RESPONSIBILITY. LORD CURZON ATTACKED. (Per Press Association, Copyright.) LONDON, December 7. Lord Birkenhead, in the House of Lords, drew attention to a statement 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 in Asia Minor without (inancial aid, and unless they received machine-guns and aeroplanes. “If the British Government was unable to give such assistance, let us know in time that we may withdraw,” was allegedly communicated. Lord Birkenhead, said the letter, if authentic, was never communicated to the 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 was shown by his speech in the House of Commons on August 4.

LOBBY OPINION. SERIOUS VIEW TAKEN. LONDON, December 7. Lobby opinion takes a very serious view of the Curzon-Gounaris correspondence, an explanation of which is awaited anxiously. Lord Birkenhead, in his speech in the House of Lords, said M. Gounaris’ letter ~also asked for reinforcements sufficient to raise the Greek units to their full strength, and thus neutralise the Turkish superiority in numbers. In a series of cross-questions with Lord Salisbury, Lord Birkenhead added that he had a copy of Lord Curzon’s reply to M. Gouimris, which he proceeded to read, as lollows: —“I can only express the hope that the military position in Anatolia is less immediately critical than your note leads me to think. I trust that the remarkable patriotism and discipline of the Hellenic armies, of which there has been 1 so many illustrations in last few years, will not fail them in this emergency.” Lord Curzon went on to refer to the failure of the Greek Government to raise a loan in London, and said that the British Government had endeavoured to assist the negotiations. The failure was due to commercial obstacles rather than to political aspects. In these circumstances., the, wisest course would b© 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 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. Ido not doubt that in a similar spirit of confidence and good faith, you will be prepared to listen to the counsels offered you in Paris.” After reading Lord Curzon’s letter, Lord Birkenhead said:—“lf that advice does not mean ‘Stay in Anatolia, at least for the present,’ words have no meaning. If Cabinet had had an opportunity of discussing the correspondence I would have advised that Greece should withdraw from Asia Minor immediately, and thus have saved a ghastly tragedy and saved the lives of Greek Ministers.” . Lord Salisbury retorted: “It is evident that the noble Lord’s object is to attack Lord Curzon, but Lord Birkenhead was also responsible as a member of the Government.” Lord said: The documents were never sent to me. Iney are not letters that one- could receive and forget.” , , >.