E. Venizelos'un, İzmir'e (Smyrna) bir İngiliz subayı tayin edilmesine ilişkin olarak Lord Balfour'a gönderdiği mektup.

(Monsieur Balfour, S). secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, promised to present this request of the Greek Government to Lord Curzon, but at the same time expressed his doubt as to whether the British Government could alone accept this proposition which seemed to come under the jurisdiction of the Peace Conference. I take the liberty, my dear Colleague, to appeal to you personally and ask you to be so good as to recommend the acceptance of the request of the Hellenic Government. The undertaking of this investigation by the Peace Conference would necessarily imply the participation of other Great Powers as well and owing to the conflicting interests of one of them with those of Greece in Western Asia Minor, the impartiality of the investigation would be greatly handicapped and its success seriously compromised. Neither do I consider it fair that the work of the Greek authorities should be subjected to the criticisms of a Government, the agents of which in the Smyrna region have done nothing towards facilitating the task of the Greek forces in their undertaking to accomplish a duty assigned to them by the Peace Conference. Moreover, the accusation against the Greek Army has been based on information received from English sources and the statement of the British Undersecretary has naturally created a painful impression among the British people. It is a case therefore, of enlightening fully British public opinion, which should be acquainted with the fact that the Greek Government is not disposed to tolerate any offense committed by the Greek Army. I trust, my dear Colleague, that you will admit the correctness of my view in this matter. I beg to remain, Yours very sincerely, (signed) E. K. Venizelos.