Letter from E. Venizelos to Dr. R. Burrows regarding the investigation of the events which took place between Greeks and Turks in Smyrni.

convinced that this news is greatly exaggerated and that even if a few houses have been burned -- as the burning of the whole Turkish quarter is out of the question -- it is quite probable that the fire has started as a result of the bombardment of the city by the Turks, who had been firing against it for two days, by five-inch guns for the purpose of forcing our Army to evacuate it. I am convinced, dear Friend, that our Army is conscientiously fulfilling the task entrusted to it by the Conference in Asia Minor, in spite of the greatest difficulties which naturally the enemy puts in its way and what it is really a harder task, i.e. in spite of the intrigues of one of our Allies. In all cases -- where military operations were necessary for the purpose of advancing -- the Greek Army has absolutely respected the rules of war, and where no unprovoked attack has taken place, no misconduct has been registered and no regrettable incident occurred. But, where our soldiers have been unexpectedly attacked from the windows and the roofs of the Turkish houses and have thus been forced to defend themselves, I cannot be absolutely sure, that on some such occasions they have restored order without undue severity. Knowing, as I do, however, the soul of the Greek soldier, I am sure that his conduct even on such occasions has not been more extreme, than would have been, under similar circumstances the conduct of the Armies of the majority of the nations -- foremost in civilization. The British soldiers who have fought by the side of our men in Macedonia, are best qualified to testify whether any Bulgarian prisoner, captured by our men, has ever been ill-treated by them. In fact, so great is my conviction about the conduct of our soldiers that I cabled to the High Commissioner of Greece in Constantinople, M. Canellopoulos, (see per Annex B), asking him to request Admiral Calthorpe to be so good as to attach British Officers to the different units of the Greek Army of occupation, so that they