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

Hotel Mercédès, July 9, 1919. My dear Friend:- I have received your two letters of June 31st, and 28th, and I was exceedingly interested to acquaint myself with the important news contained therein. I thank you over so much, for the great interest you have once more shown on behalf of my country at this present moment. I have been so long in answering, because I wanted to be able to give you some facts and also to explain the whole case to you at some length. To begin with, I need not assure you that the first I knew of the killing of Turkish prisoners by the Greek soldiers escorting them, was from your letter and from the discussion which took place in the House of Commons regarding them. I had known, of course, that, owing to the unexpected attack by the Turks against the Greek forces which were marching for the occupation of the Turkish quarter, and to the ensuing battle, the worst elements of the population -- which are by no means scarce in a big seaport -- took advantage of the opportunity and committed murders and especially gave themselves to acts of looting. I had been informed as well, that as a result of these regrettable incidents, the Greek Court-martial within five days of the occupation, dealt with the chief culprits, two of whom were condemned to death; this penalty was executed on the following day. One of these two was a Greek soldier, and he was condemned because he could not justify the provenance of the Turkish gold found on him.