§ MR. KIRKsaid, he would beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury, If it is true that a sum of £1,139,198, according to a Parliamentary Return dated the 20th of February last, has been paid by England to Greece since the year 1843 to the present time; and, whether these sums have been paid in accordance with any Treaty, Convention, or Contract between England and Greece; if so, what were the political objects sought for by the British Government at the period when such Treaty, Convention, or Contract was concluded between this Country and Greece, and have these objects been attained; if not, are Her Majesty's Government prepared to recommend to Parliament the further payment of such moneys for an indefinite period, or are they prepared to signify to the Hellenic Government that after a certain period no further sums of Money will be paid by England to Greece?
MR. GLADSTONESir, the matter of fact which enters into the Question of my hon. Friend is very easily answered. It is true that a sum of £1,139,198 has been paid by England since the year 1843 up to the present time, and that it has been paid to Greece in the sense of being paid in order to prevent defalcation in the regular dividends on a certain portion of a Loan on behalf of Greece, which Loan was contracted under our guarantee. It has not been paid to Greece, therefore, for her own disposal or to use it at her own discretion, but in fulfilment of an engagement into which this country has entered. Next, it is a fact that the whole of these sums 1897 have been paid in accordance with treties, conventions, and contracts; and not only so, but in accordance with treaties, conventions, and contracts, which from their nature were brought under the notice of Parliament, and which received the sanction of Parliament. Indeed, without such sanction these sums could not have been paid even if Her Majesty had pledged herself to the payment. The political object sought by the British Government in connection with other Powers, especially France and Russia, was the establishment and security of the liberty and independence of the Kingdom of Greece. The degree in which, that object has been attained is, of course, a matter on which there can be no difference of opinion, but before the present King of Greece assumed the Throne, a new Convention was entered into, and it was then declared by these Powers to be for the interest of Europe that the Greek Kingdom should continue to exist in a state of political independence. At that time, also, a certain sacrifice was made by this country, which engaged to give up the dividends which the Greek Government would have to pay to us in consideration of a certain regulated sum of £12,000 a year. That arrangement received the sanction of Parliament. With regard to the last portion of the question of the hon. Gentleman as to whether the Government are prepared to recommend to Parliament the further payment of such moneys for an indefinite period, I am afraid I have no option but to say that it is, under covenant, absolutely the bounden duty of this country to continue to pay these moneys until either the loan is liquidated, or we can prevail on the Government of Greece to make provision for the payment. In 1860, when the regulated payment of £12,000 from Greece was agreed upon, that sum was not accepted as a permanent arrangement, but as the minimum sum that Greece was to pay. It was fully understood that, in proportion as her resources and financial condition might improve, the Powers would be at liberty to require of Greece the further, and, if possible, the complete, carrying out of her engagements.