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2.
His Majesty's Government have decided, however, to establish a British administration of the Islands for the duration of the war in the event of their capture or surrender and they note that it is the view of the Turkish Government that the Dodecanese should be occupied exclusively by the British. It follows that should the Italian garrison surrender for internment to the Turkish authorities in advance of the capture of the Islands, the Turkish Government will put no obstacles in the way of the British forces which will be ready to occupy and administer the Archipelago.
3.
4.
For your own information, His Majesty's Government would be glad to obtain from the Turkish Government an express undertaking in the sense of the preceding sentence.
His Majesty's Government note the objection expressed by the Turkish Minister of Foreign Affairs to Greek participation not only in the occupation and administration of the Islands but also in the actual attack. The Turkish Government must, however, realise that it is not open to His Majesty's Government to prevent the Greeks, who are at war with the Italians, from attacking or participating in an attack on any territory occupied by their enemy. They are however 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 may no doubt wish to employ the services of the local inhabitants in the administration to be set up after capture which is bound to be of a military character.
5.
In informing the Turkish Government in the sense of paragraphs 1, 2 and 4 above, you should state that, their efforts to promote an immediate settlement between the Turks and the Greeks being fruitless, His Majesty's Government propose that the question of the future status of the Islands should be left in abeyance until the peace settlement, when it is to be hoped that the Turkish and Greek Governments will be able to reach an agreement among themselves. Meanwhile the general position will be safeguarded by the British administration which His Majesty's Government will set up in the event of the capture or surrender of the Islands and will maintain for the duration of the war,
ANNEX II
Draft Telegram from the Foreign Office
(R.117/G)
to Athens.
Your telegram No. 27 (of 5th January), Angora telegram No. 22 (of 4th January) and my telegram
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