BRITAIN AND THE GREEK EXECUTIONS

Evening Post, Volume CIV, Issue 131, 30 November 1922, Page 7

BRITAIN AND THE GREEK EXECUTIONS

DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS IN BALANCE

EFFORTS TO SECURE' CLEMENCY.

(SHHTO PUBS ASSOCIATION.—COPTItMHTO

{AUBTEAHAN - HEW ZEALAND CABLE ASSOCIATION.) LONDON, 28th November.

The British Government takes the gravest possible view- of the execution of the Greek ex-Ministers. Representations, amounting almost to a threat to suspend diplomatic relations were made.

The "Daily Express" states: "The execution of the Gournavis Ministers is an outrage upon civilised humanity only paralleled by the murder of lung Alexander and Queen Draga of Serbia. To', ■execute politicians because their policy was a mistaken one is to revert to savagery. We hope the British Government .will sever all diplomatic relations. His- ■ tory will applaud the decision of civilisation to ostracise the debased descendants of Pericles and Aristides. That sinister influence, M. Venizelos, should never be allowed to return to Britain. The friends of Greeks will not be quite bo disposed to listen to teles of Turkish atrocities in the future." The Hon. F. 0. Lindley, British Minister at Athens, continued his efforts Ito secure clemency to the last. Without waiting for the official notification !of the formation of a new military '■Cabinet, he twice visited the Foreign Ministry without avail. Finally, in the , middle of the night he saw _ Colonel I Plastyrate, leader of the revolution, and ! failed here also. It is understood the ' Greek Government claims that as a state iof siege has been proclaimed all individual liberties were suspended, and the i court-martial had full power to do as it ' liked. It claims that the dead Ministers .•were fully responsible for the national catastrophe. When they came into power they dismissed every general of note ;\vho happened to be anti-Royalist, appointing CoMtantnrists, whatever their : military experience. 1 (Received 30th November, S a.m.) ATHENS, 29th November. "The Hon. F. 0. Lindley, British representative at Athens, has gone to Lausanne to see Lord Carzon;