The first inclination of the Greek authorities seemed to be
to say that in the imagined circumstances it would be their duty, according to international law, to intern any Allied troops. A moment's consideration will show that such a reading of their duty would be preposterous to the last degree. It could not be supported at any point by an appeal to law or morals. The Allied troops landed at Salonika at the invitation of M. Venezelos, who was then the Greek Prime Minister. They came to help Greece to fulfil her treaty obligations to Serbia. Since the landing the protestations of Greek goodwill have been several times repeated. If these protestations were sincere, as we assume them to have been, there can be no difficulty whatever in giving a definite form to them. Such a definite guarantee we have every right to demand. British sympathy with Greece has always been strong. It is a tradition with ns and will not easily expire. We recognize the difficulties of Greece and make every allow- ance for them, and we sincerely hope that everything will turn out for her future happiness and prosperity. But we propose nothing unreasonable in asking Greece to explain her intentions. We only ask that she shall give us a straightforward answer.
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