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2.

I enclose drafts of telegrams

to Angora and Athens and shall be glad to know whether the Chiefs of Staff concur in them.

3.

You will notice that we propose to tell the Turks that we are prepared to undertake that the Greeks will not be asked to participate in the administration of the Islands after capture, although in accordance with normal procedure the British authorities will no doubt wish to employ the services of local inhabitants, i.e. Greeks in the military administration which will be set up after the capture of the Islands. I believe that General Wavell has had some idea of raising a Dodecanesian legion from outside the Dodecanese to assist in the British administration of the Islands, In view of the Turkish attitude we fear that this will no longer be possible, and I hope that it will not prove inconvenient if the Commander-in-Chief is obliged to rely on local Greeks only for assistance in the administration of the Islands.

I am sending a copy of this letter to the Private Secretary of the First Lord, since Mr. Alexander has taken a special interest in this question.

(Signed) PHILIP NICHOLS.

(R.117/G)

ANNEX I

Draft Telegram from the Foreign Office

to Angora.

Angora.

No.

Cypher

Depart- mental Secret.

Your telegram No. 22 (of 4th January proposed Turco-Greek settlement regarding the Dodecanese).

The reply of the Turkish Government is disappointing. Object of His Majesty's Government in approaching the Turkish Government was, as stated in paragraph 8 of my telegram No. 1610, a desire to facilitate a settlement of this difficult question which would prove satisfactory to both their Turkish and Greek friends and obviate any possible cause of friction at this moment. In reply the Turkish Government have failed even to indicate the basis on which they might be prepared to settle this question, are not prepared to discuss matters with the Greek Government, and have in effect done no more than to reserve their rights in the most ample manner. In these circumstances His Majesty's Government do not intend to take any further steps at this stage designed to promote a settlement of the question between the Turkish and Greek Governments.

+ Annex I (To Angora) Annex II (To Athens)

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