SECRETS OF NEAR EAST

New Zealand Times, Volume L, Issue 11435, 3 February 1923, Page 12

SECRETS OF NEAR EAST

| VENIZELOS & LLOYD CEORCE TALK ABOUT CRUSHING THE KEMALISTS. PARIS, November 2d. That Mr Lloyd George and M. Venizelos are ehiorly responsible for the collapse of Greece, and for the death of the Greek Ministers executed at Athens, is the thesis urged by the “Matin,” which, in support of it, publishes the text of letters said to have been addressed by the Greek exPremier to the Minister for Foreign Affairs at Athens from London in 1920 By using Greece as an instrument for the realisation of a purely personal policy, in disregard of advice from France and Italy, and even from his own Secretary for Foreign Affairs, and the British military authorities, he has, it says, narrowly escaped the ruin of the Entente, the division of Europe, and the outbreak of another war. The first letter is dated March 6th, 1920, and reports a conversation with the Secretary, of State for War, who said he was instructed by the Prime Minister to ask M. Venizelos whether Greece was disposed, in the event of Turkey’s refusal to accept the peace conditions to be laid down in the Sevres Treaty, to impose them upon her by force of arms in as far as they might deal with the territorial concessions to he made to Greece. NO MILITARY HELP. Mr Lloyd George wished it to be known that Great Britain, could give no military help in these regions, being only able to provide the forces necessary in Constantinople and the Straits, and for eventualities elsewhere. M. Venizelos is quoted as replying that Greece would undertake to impose the conditions of peace in whatever concerned areas awarded to her. After the Boulogne Conference, in an interview with Mr Lloyd George, the Greek statesman gathered that France and Italy were disposed to lighten the conditions to be dictated to the Turks, and, that in this they were in agreement with the British Secretary for Foreign Affairs and British military experts. “TO SMASH THE KEMALISTS.” He points out the adverse effect this might have on Greek claims in Thrace and Asia Minor, and he reports that he has informed Mr * Lloyd George, therefore, that, he will undertake not only to send a Greek division to reinforce the British at Ismid, hut also to smash the Kemalist Army facing the Greeks, and to hold the whoie coast from the Sea of Marmora against the incursion of Mustayha Kemal. For thiß he has asked no help—financial or' other —from the Allies, and should the. Greek action not have the effect of Bringing about the signature and execution of the treaty, he will • take it upon him to increase the strength or the Greek arm-v in such measure that, with the help of the British Army actually in Turkey, it will be possible to coerce the Turks in the field. In that case he would need British help in money and munitions of war, and he asked that before calling upon the Greek people to make the further effort necessary, it should be decided to dismember Turkey, which would be restricted to the tableland of Anatolia. THE NEW ORDER. “I succeeded,” he is stated to have written, “in making Mr Lloyd George adopt my proposal. I have every reason to’ believe that the new order in the Near East will be based on the Hellenic .factor, which England will do her best to make as powerful as possible.” Under date of June 15th, 1920, a third letter is quoted marked “Absolutely secret and personal. To he decoded by the Minister for Foreign Affairs himself.” M. Venizelos has seen Mr Lloyd George again, who thinks Italy cannot be counted upon, and would probably rejoice if the treaty were not executed, and that though M. Millerand is. sincere, French publio opinion would not tolerate the sending of a new army to Turkey. He again asked whether Greece would be willing to make the necessary military effort, and when he voices his tiwn opinion that the power of the resistance of the Turks has been over-eetimated, asks M. Venizelos to see the Secretary for War and 'the Chief of the British General Staff and to impress this opinion on them “ONLY ONE CRIME.” The Greek statesman gives tho Minister at Athens to understand that if the British suggestion is not accepted, Greece will he advised to restrict her claims, hut says that in the contrary case he hopes that tho peace conditions would be modified in her favour. He asks for the Minister’s views and whether it would he possible to call up three or four classes of the army in order to make good losses and to mobilise two new divisions. The men now on their trial, Bays the “Matin,” have committed only one crime, that of having fallen under the influence of Mr Lloyd George, and of having followed faithfully the Imperialist policy of M. Venizelos.