THE CHINA MAIL, MAY 7, 1941.
WAR DEBATE OPENS IN COMMONS
Mr. Eden's Review Of Developments In Middle East
Fatal Attitude Of Earlier Yugoslav Government
OPENING THE DEBATE ON THE WAR SITUATION IN THE HOUSE OF COMMONS YESTERDAY, MR. ANTHONY EDEN, SECRE- TARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS, POINTED TO HIS DIFFI- CULTY IN GIVING THE COMMONS A FULL ACCOUNT OF RECENT EVENTS, PARTICULARLY IN THEIR RELATION TO "HOSTILITIES IN THE MIDDLE EAST.
he said. "Others are listening to every "We are not alon ›,' word that is said in these debates and there is much I would like to tell which, perforce, I am unable to tell at the present time, for I have so to phrase my remarks that I do not assist the enemy in any way in his activities.'
**
Recalling the early days of February, Mr. Eden said: "What then seemed to the Government to be a German plan for an early Spring campaign was looming.
They had then already a large number of troops in Rumania, taking positions at Bulgarian aero- dromes, and it seemed clear to us that the object of all this was, step by step, to overrun the Balkans, having occupied Rumania by methods we know of, to establish themselves in Bulgaria, thereby to to subjugate Greece, to encircle Yugoslavia, immobilise Turkey, and from that position, without firing a single shot, to deliver their main blow from secure bases at our position in the eastern Medi- terranean.
"There is no doubt the subsid- jary purposes in this plan was to bring help to their Italian allies, whose war was not going to well in Albania.
"Hitler
บล
A
hat described to how well the Italians did. nation of 45 millions weakening against seven millions!
"I do not suppose ever a more insulting tribute has been paid to any ally. (Hear, hear).
vance at Benghazi and to prepare the forces there to go to the help of Greece.
"That decision was the decision of Government and of the three chief military advisers.
Many Problems
"If Greece was to be helped it be was obvious that help must made ready and brought to bear very rapidly. Many problems re-
solution- uired discussion and
in complete agreement with the against any menace to their sove- declsion "arrived at.
reignty or any encroachment on their rights and interests.
No Recrimination
"From Greece there has been The other day no recrimination.
Greek
I sent a message to the Government congratulating them on the valour and actions of their
received troops and I
should give to which I House:--
reply the
native
"Please assure the House of Commons and the British people that their eulogies of the Greek of Army will touch the hearts our whole nation. We will never forget the loyal and courageous
which help
the British and Imperial forces gave our land. Our allies showed themselves worthy to rank with the ancient heroes of Thermopylae in and to write letters of gold
of British pages history. I desire once again the glorious assure you that we will continue
to
the struggle by the side of our
The British Commonwealth, until victory is won and the triumph of the ideals of 'liberty, morality and international justice is achieved,"
great ally, the noble people of
Abundantly clear that Greece (Cheers).
was
"Bince the beginning of this war Turkey has rendered great service to our cause by her policy of independence. The Im-- portance of her role as a bul- wark against further aggression In the Middle East is obvious.
**[ AM SURE THAT LOYALTY TO THEIR ALLIANCE COUNTRY WILL, WITH THIS AS EVER. BE THE BASIS OF THE TURKISH GOVERNMENT'S POLICY."
"Rashid Ali
Turning to Iraq, Mr. Eden said "Unconstitutional action by Rashid Ali has already led once to his fall from power.
"When later he seized power again, the British Government saw no reason why this or . any other event in iraq should
their deprive them of
clear treaty rights.
"Nothing can excuse the action in of the Iraqi milltary leaders first accepting and then challeng- ing our clear treaty rights.
determined to realet German aggression as "she had Mr. Eden continued: "I think
of "This country has a record the reststed Italian aggression. the House will agree that
which it has no need to be message generous spirit of that
nation ashamed in its dealings with the bas animated the Greek
Iraq. (Cheers).
"It was
"The Greek Prime Minister added that whatever the hopes throughout its ordeal.” (Cheers). Arab people and above all with
of repulsing the enemy. Greece; would defend her national terri- fory if she could count only her own forces (cheers).
Reasonable Chance
on 1
Mr.
Not Enough Turning to Yugoslavia, Eden said when they arrived they got plenty of encouragement that a German attack on Yugo "A these discussions we told slavia would be resisted but la the Greek Government what we said, "This was not enough. What knew of the German plans. They was needed was a common plan came to the conclusion that the so that if an attack developed we 1af establishment
Anglo-Greek should have the bes: chance of
Haliakmon line forces on the
esisting it together. (Cheers). offered
reasonable a
fighting the German chatice of holding advance,
we who assured Independence to modern Iraq: It is we who have assisted them and in every respect kept our word.
"I wish to make plain to the world our present position.
"We are grateful for the offer of their good offices by the Turkish and Egyptian Governments,
"OUR POSITION IS: THE FIRST REQUISITE IS THE WITHDRAWAL OF TROOPS AND HABBANIYAH "WE MADE EVERY EFFORT FROM
CESSATION OF HOSTILITIES TO SECURE THIS AND EVERY
THE BRITISH EFFORT FAILED UNTIL THE AGAINST
OF THE COUP FORCES IN IRAQ.
"The decision was reached very | MOMENT quickly and in complete agreement D'ETAT. between the military experts of the two countries.
we
to
"During
these conversations
repeatedly were given understand that the Yugoslav When we "It so happened at that time army was mobilised. that we had the advantage of pressed our anxieties that
lute, the most would be loo consulting in Calro that
warrior, (Cheers).
General
Smuts.
that
· Britain Determined "When this has been done and Agbling between the allied nations they bas in consequence ceased, His reply Majesty's Government is prepared to discuss the fulfilment of their treaty rights, which they are in all circumstances determined hailta. (Ineers).
"Many distinguished leaders
wisc statesman and tried always came, 'we shall be ready
"In fact,
mobilisation had not proceeded fast enough and it was not until the coup d'etat that the new Government made a real and urgent effort to get their armies ready.
we
were
be
"I asked him if he could
Cairo the kind enough to come to "As we watched that Greek cum-the position of Yugoslavia,
With there. paign in Albania, supported by our necessity for keeping Turkey in- when
did own air force, but against an ex- formed of our plans, and so forth.characteristic generosity he
so, and we were able to consult tremely heavy attack by men and
Government him. materials, one must have thought so much surren- that never was
few. to so many dered by 50 (Laughter and cheers).
was
to
Too Late
of
their
already realised this."
to
most have
Mr. Eden said that for a long time Italian newspapers had been regularly expressing their hope "It seemed to
and of seeing a British defeat that the wisest stop
"It was then too late-too late had shown quite clearly that if Italy attempt direct negotiations, so
Complete Agreement
their hopes were fulfilled for the best will in the world to would control the Arab lands of Chief of they entrusted the
und concentrate the Imperial General Staff and
"That decision was taken at the mobilise armies
be if North Africa and elsewhere.
Mr. Eden proceeded: "Every myself with this task.
gravest risk, in the light of our them where they ought to
Since then we
they were to give us the support
Arab must know what that means. "NEITHER OF US EVER HAD equipment here.
have
а maintained continuous and help needed.
In all recent history there has OF THE
cruel and ploit which brought valuable gain. THE LEAST DOUBT
stream of men and materials to ODDS AGAINST THE FULL
the Middle East. SUCCESS OF OUR MISSION.
"Now I come
8.
which was the date our forces en-
to February
tered Benghazia brilliant
Rest And Refit
ex-
effort "But with the supreme entalled by that advance, the arm
so large oured troops who had share in it had to rest and rest.
far
but
to
"We knew perfectly well that
German plans were the advanced. We knew how great were their material powers I think we should have been Their vehicles had not only blame if we had not made that been engaged in a continuous
(Cheers). attempt. advance for two months
but many of them had been engag- ed in action for a much longer time, with hardly, a rest.
"So there was no prospect of prolonging the advance with those armoured vehicles beyond, the : point reached at Benghazi, and
any prolonged advance by formations to Tripoli was out of
the question.
Greek Note
these
French "With the collapse of resistance our forces in the Middle East were fell to meet the situa- the of tion without the help French armies.
"This country has made that possible by submitting to restric- tions of imports.
"With the collapse of France the fulfilment of our obligations for equipment to Turkey and the guarantee to Greece fell sively on our shoulders.
exclu-
"On our arrival in Cairo we found that the
throe com- manders-in-chief were in com- plete agreement with the policy advocated in London,
by
"So it was, despite all the gat. been no rule more lantry of the Yugoslav army, ruthless than that imposed which has been as eplendid in Italy on Arabs living in Tripoli this war as in the last, despite and Cyrenaica. all that, without an offective plan, the Yugoslav armies could not and did not stop the German drive through southern Serbia to Monastir Gap.
"Spectre”?
"What of the other parties? that Hitler told us on Sunday
in he is an interested spectator
whose the Balkans-a spectator "It is perhaps idle and unpro- Atable to speculate but had the rule is based on military might Government which preceded the, and of the Gestapo. coup d'etat of General Simovitch. as clearly understood Yugoslavia's true interests as did the Govern- ment of General Simovitch, the whole story might have been dif- ferent.
..
"Arabe in any land must know that the approach of Axis rule moans the end of their liberty, which they have jealously guarded, and which, in alliance' Serious Shortages
with us, ls safe to-day." "We found in principle that the
Concluding, Mr. Eden declared "Our forces were relatively land formations to be sent out "But none of these things can "Not once does Germany or Italy small and, what was worst, they had already been decided on and detract from the courage of the show anywhere the least respect had many serious shortages of preparations were in hand for
decision which the Yugoslav for an engagement. Their only equipment.
their concentration..
people eventually took.
sanction is force.
"The United States to-day are in many "We have pledged ourselves to helping us greatly redeem Yugoslavla's indepon-spheres and in many ways, dence and that pledge will be honoured. (Cheers).
of last at home
"In the late summer "On February 8 there reached year the Government the British Government a Note were deeply exercised by the from the Greek Government con- situation in the Middle East, firming the determination of the Greek Government to resist. Ger- man aggression. (Cheers).,
"It asked us to say what help we could give and the conditions in which we could give it.
"After Ganera... Wavell came consultations with home for 'the' Prime Minister, Govern mant took the decision to take *that great risks to reinforce army.
"I would not have thought it hecessary to mention this ex- cept that it was considered" that the forces to be left In Oyrenaica would be sufficient. to meet any threats,
An Appointment
© Immense Step Turkish Loyalty "The more fully, more rapidly and more certainly that help can. "While we were in the Middle reach the battlefelds in Asia, East we had frequent opportuni- Africa and Europe, the shorter the "After a brief interval wede-ties for conversations, with Tur- duration of the war.
"That is why. I welcome the Acided that all of us go to: Athens: kish statesmen, The Turkish Gov-
Immense step forward taken by inkThis Note from the Grask "We then sent out armoured I say all of us, but I ought to ernment was informed; as an ally,
the United States in däölding to Government was not a dry for units, men, material, and aircraft, exclude the Commander-in-Chief, of our plans in connection with
Brend chips to the Red Bor, @help. (Cheers)." "It was a state, and it was that equipment and Mediterranean, Admiral Cunning- Greece.
"It must be purkurivilege, mant of the Greek position and these weapons which enabled ham, who had at that moment
"Throughout all these conversa- together with the help we can: a"request that we should state General Wilson and General one of his occasional appointments
O'Connor in their desert advance with an elusive enemy. (The tions I was deeply impressed by receive from the United St the loyal friendship, shown by all win for the nation of Eur to secure such brilliant' successes. Battle of Matapan).
the Turkish; statesmen, who we right to live their own lives (Cheers)."
that 11- & OfHe has authorised me, to say, anduocension to meet, and by the peace and tranquility, secure at Greek King and Prime and indbed his speeches have determinationd they and their fast from the haunting? drög orati: ongek "made it since made pl that he too asi people; showed to stand firm shadows our time" Reu
ours.
“In favor of these conditions, Government décidèdy, to: maintain the decision they had préviaušly
tto-huit the