1941-05-07 — Page 34

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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- TO HIS DIFFI- TARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS, POINTED CULTY IN GIVING THE COMMONS A FULL ACCOUNT OF RECENT EVENTS, PARTICULARLY IN THEIR RELATION TO HOSTILITIES IN THE MIDDLE EAST.

"We are not alon›,” he said. "Others are listening to every 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 incircle Yugoslavia, subjugate Greece, to 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- fary purposes in this plan was to bring help to their Italian allies. whose war was not going too well in Albania.

vance at Benghazi and to prepare the forces there to go to the help of Greece.

in complete agreement with the against any menace to their sove- decisión arrived at.

reignty or any encroachment on their rights and interests.

*No Recrimiltätiön

"From Greece there has been no recrimination. The other day I sent a message to the Greek Government congratulating them on the valour and actions of their

troops and 1 received a reply which I should give to the House:-

"Since 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.

"T AM

SURE THAT LOYALTY TO THEIR ALLIANCE WITH THIS COUNTRY WILL, AS EVER. BE THE BASIS OF THE TURKISH GOVERNMENT'S POLICY."

" 'Please assure the House of Commons and the British people that their euiogles of the Greek Army will touch the hearts of our whole nation. We will never forget the loyal and courageous help which The British and Imperial forces gave our native Turning to Iraq, Mr. Eden sald land. Our allies showed "Vuconstitutional action by Rashid themselves worthy to rank with All has already led once to his the ancient heroes of Thermopylae fail from power.

in and to write letters of gold

pages of Brilish the glorious history. I desire once again Lo assure you that we will continue the struggle by the side of our great ally, the noble people of the British Commonwealth, until victory is won and the triumph of the ideals of liberty, morality and international justice is achieved.'"

abundantly clear that Greece (Cheers).

Was determined to resist German aggression as she had resisted Italian aggression.

Rashid Ali

"When later he seized power again, the British Government . saw по reason why this or any other event in Iraq 'should deprive them of their clear treaty rights.

"Nothing can excuse the action of the Iraqi military leaders in first accepting and then challeng- ing our clear treaty rights.

"This country has a record · of

need to message, which it has no

be nation ashamed in its dealings with the (Cheers), Arab people and above all with

Iraq. (Cheers).

Mr. Eden continued: "I think the House will agree that thel generous spirit of that "The Greek Prime Minister has animated the Greek added that whatever the hopes throughout its ordeal.” u repulsing the enemy, Greece would defend her national terri- tory if she could count only on her own forces (cheers).

Reasonable Chance

Not Enough

Turning to Yugoslavia, Mr, Eden said when they arrived They got plenty of encouragement that a German attack on Yugo - "A these discussions we told slavta would be resisted but i the Greek Government what we said, "This was not enough. Whad 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 establishment of Anglo-Greek should have the best chance of

Haliakman forces on the

line offered a reasonable fighting the German chance of holding advance.

"It whs We who Assured - Independence to modern Iraq: It is we who have assisted them

and ip 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

THE REQUISITE IS esisting it together. (Cheers). WITHDRAWAL OF TROOPS

HABBANIYAH

AND

BRITISH

Britain Determined

"When this has been done and

"WE MADE EVERY EFFORT FROM TO SECURE THIS AND EVERY CESSATION OF HOSTILITIES

THE EFFORT FAILED UNTIL THE AGAINST MOMENT OF THE COUP FORCES IN IRAQ.

"During these conversations we were given repeatedly to understand that the Yugoslav

"The decision was reached very "That decision was the decision quickly and in complete agreement D'ETAT.

between the military experts of Government and of the three

the two countries. us chief military advisers,

A

"Hitler has described to how well the Italians did. nation of 46 millions weakening against seven milllona!

"I do not suppose ever a more insulting tribute has been paid to any ally. (Hear,,hear).

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- quired discussion and solution-

of

"It so happened at that time army was mobilised. When we fighting between the allied nations that we had the advantage of pressed our anxietles that they has in consequence ceased, His most would be too late, the reply Majesty's Government is prepared wise statesman and tried always came, 'we shall be ready to discuss the fulfilment of their

General Smuts.

consulting in Calro that

warrior, (Cheers).

"I asked him if he could be Cairo

"As we watched that Greek cam-the position of Yugoslavia, the kind enough to come to paign in Albania, supported by our necessity for keeping Turkey in- when we were there. With own air force, but against an exformed of our plans, and so forth. characteristic generosity he

did tremely heavy attack by men and

materials, one must have thought]

that never was so much surren-

dered by 50 many to so (Laughter and cheers).

few.

of

so, and we were able to consult "It seemed to Government, him. that the wisest step was to attempt direct negotiations, so

Chlef they entrusted the the Imperial General Staff and myself with this task.

"Now I come to February 8, which was the date our forces en- tered Benghazi a brilliant ex- ploit which brought valuable gain.

"NEITHER OF US EVER HAD

FULL

THE LEAST DOUBT OF THE ODDS AGAINST THE SUCCESS OF OUR MISSION.

Rest And Refit

"But with the supreme effort

"We knew perfectly well that entailed by that advance, the arm- the German plans were far oured troops who had so large a advanced. We knew how great share in it had to rest and refit. were their material powers but

I think we should have been

to

Complete Agreement

"In fact, that 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.

Too Late

treaty rights, which they all circumstances determined

dititain, (Cneers).

"Many of their distinguished leaders

are in

to

most hayo

Mr. Eden said that for a long time Italian newspapers had been regularly expressing their

hope

and

already realised this."

of seeing a British defeat "It was then too late-too late had shown quite clearly that it. for the best will in the world to, their hopes were fulfilled Italy and concentrate would control the Arab lands of mobilise armies

be if North Africa and elsewhere.

"That decision was taken at the gravest risk, in the light of our them where they ought to equipment here. Since then we they were to give us the support have maintained continuous and help needed. stream of men and materials to the Middle East.

"This country has made that possible by submitting to restric-

tions of imports.

"With the collapse of France the fulfilment of our obligations Their vehicles had not only blame if we had not made that for equipment to Turkey and the been engaged in a continuous attempt. (Cheers).

guarantee to Greece fell exclu- sively on our shoulders.

advance for two' months but

many of them had been engag. "With the collapse of French ed in action for a much longer resistance our forces in the Middle time, with hardly a rest.

East were left to meet the situa- tion without the help of the

"So there was no prospect of French armies. prolonging the advance with those armoured vehicles beyond the 1 point reached at Benghazi,

*Serious Shortages and these any prolonged advance by

"Our forces were relatively formations to Tripoli was out of small and, what was worst, they the question,

had many serious shortages of equipment.

Greek Note

"In the late summer of last "On February 8 there reached year the Government at home the the British Government a Note were deeply exercised by 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.

1

"After General Waveli came with home: for 'consultations the Prime Minister, Govern- ment took the decision to take great risks to reinforce that army...

found

"On our arrival in Cairo we that the three com- manders-in-chief were in com- plete agreement with the policy advocated in London,

"We found in principle that the and formations to be sent out. had already been decided on and preparations were in their concentration.

hand for

"I would not have thought it necessary to mention this: ex- cept that it was considered that the forces to be left In bo1 qufficient Cyrenaica" would

to meet any threats, va

· An Appointment

Mr. Eden proceeded: "Every Arab must know what that means. In all recent history there has and cruel "So It was, despite all the gaf been no rule more

by lantry of the Yugoslav

ruthless than that imposed army, which has been as splendid in Italy on Arabs living in Tripoli this war as in the laat, despite and Cyrenaica. all that, without an affective plan, the Yugoslav armlos could not and did not stop the German drive through southern Serbia to Monastir Gap.

Spectre ?

"What of the other parties? Hitler told us on Sunday. that he is an interested spectator in whose "It is perhaps idle, and unpro- the Balkans-a spectator fitable to speculate but had the rule is based on military might Government which preceded the, and of the Gestapo. coup d'état 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.

detract from the courage of the "But none of these things can

decisión Which the Yugoslav people eventually took.

"Arabe in any land must know that the approach of Axis rule means the end of their liberty, which they have jealously guarded and which, In alliance with us, is safe to-day,” Concluding, Mr. Eden, declared show anywhere the least respect "Not once does Germany or Italy

an engagement. Their on

only for

sanction is force.

"The United States to-day are "We have pledged ourselves to helping us greatly in many redeem Yugoslavia's Indepen- spheres and in many ways. dence and that pledge:With be ́honoured. (Cheers)."

Turkish Loyalty

Immense Step

"The more fully, more rapidly and more certainly that help căn "While we were in the Middle reach the battlefields In Asia, East we had frequent opportuni- | Africa and Europe, the shorter, the "After a brief interval we de-tles for conversations with Tur- duration of the worke cided that all of us go to Athens. kish statesmen. The Turkish Gov- That is why I welcome the "This Note from the Greek "We then sent out armoured I say all of us, but I 'bught to ernment was informed, as an ally, Wimmense step forward taken by the United States in deciding to Government was not a cry for units, men, material and aircraft, exclude the Commander-in-Chief, of our plans in connection with help. · (Cheers). It was a state- and it was that equipment and Mediterranean, Admiral Cunning-Greece

dusand, ships to the Red Ber

"It must be our privilege, mant of the Greek position" and these weapons which enabled ham who had" at that” mument a request that we should state General Wilson · · and ⠀ General one of his occasional appointments "Throughout all these conversa- together with the help we can O'Connor in their "desert advance with an elusive enemy. (The tions I was deeply impressed by receive from the United States, to to secure such brilliant successes. Battle of Matapan).

the loyal friendship shown by all win for the nations of Europe the the Turkish statesmen, who we right to live their own lived “He has authorised me to gay, had occasion to meet, and by the peace and tranquility, sec Greak: King and Prime and Intleed his speeches have determination they and their last from the haunting dread that:

HEBREEDU BOD was'l people showed t stand""" firm; shadows oùr Ume? Reuter,

ours.

"In face of these conditions, (Cheers). Government decided to maintain the decision they had previously Arrived at, to halt the desert id-

:*