TURCO-GREEK TROUBLE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16452, 14 June 1921, Page 7

TURCO-GREEK TROUBLE.

BRITAIN’S NEUTRALITY. A DIFFICULT POSITION. By Telegraph—Ptpf* Association—Copyright. Australian and N.Z. Cabio Association. (Receded June 14, 9.45 a.m.) LONDON, June 13. The Australian Press Association understands that there has been no departure from Britain's policy of strictneutrality in the Turco-Greek war. which Britain took up in conjunction with Franco and Italy when the Greeks, with the Allies’ consent, launched their January offensive. Britain has gone to the length of placing an embargo on the export of munitions for which Greece let large contracts in Britain recently. Cabinet several times discussed the advisability of departing from neutrality owing to the recent Turkish outrages against Britishers and the failure to set at liberty prisoners in accordance with the agreement. Cabinet had hitherto not reached a decision on the point. Tt was necessarily hesitant to take unpopular military‘action owing to the country’s depleted exchequer . The chief motive for action would be the punishment of the Turks, not support of the Greeks, though the latter might be the only instrument available. A further cause for hesitancy is the Greeks’ military weakness under the new regime, largely due to the supersession of all the best zelist officers.