Greek War Aims
General Metaxas, the Greek Prime Minister, has stated in a Press interview what are described as the war-aims of Greece. They were expressed in the simplest terms—to assure the integrity and independence of the country, and the free development of her moral and material strength, but never to the detriment of other people's. He said that Greece must be strong in the Mediterranean, and when he added that she could not allow her racial brothers to remain in foreign hands it may be presumed that he was thinking especially of the Dodecanese. There was nothing said by the General which is not fully in conformity with the general principles enunciated again and again by our statesmen in this country. It would obviously be out of place for the Greek Prime Minister to offer a general solution of the problems of all Europe. That is difficult enough for a British statesman, too, partly because it is impossible to know at this stage what the position will be at the end of the war, however conclusive our victory, and partly because any full settlement must and ought to be a general settlement, which will give satisfaction as far as pos- sible to all the countries affected. So far as Greece is con- cerned, for the moment it is enough to know that she is fighting for her independence and for the freedom of Greeks who are under the government of an enemy, and that she repudiates the idea of interfering with the liberties of others. According to the avowed aims of Greece this is to be a war of liberation. not of conquest. No doubt the freedom of Albania is assumed.
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