§ LORD ROBERT MONTAGUasked Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, Whether the following information (regarding proceedings at Athens of our two Plenipotentiaries), contained in the "Times" of February 13th, is correct: viz.—
Sir Henry Elliot, confining his political visits to the members of the present Ministry, endeavoured, as formerly, to prove the wisdom of inaction on the part of the Greek subjects of Turkey, and maintained that the kingdom is bound by international obligations to refrain from fomenting discontent and aiding insurrection among them. Lord Salisbury, whose sympathies seemed to differ essentially from those of his late colleague at the Conference, spoke to the chief men of all parties in favour of the aspirations of the Greeks, admitting the right of those still under Turkey to regain, when possible, their natural liberty, and of their fellow-countrymen to aid them in so doing;and, whether Her Majesty's Government authorized Lord Salisbury to assert such principles?
§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUERIt is true that Lord Salisbury 383 and Sir Henry Elliot, on their return from Constantinople, stopped at Athens, but that was for their own convenience, and not under any instructions from Her Majesty's Government. Neither had they any instructions as to any language they were to hold there, and Her Majesty's Government have no official cognizance of any private Conversation which may have occurred. But I have no objection to state to the House that Lord Salisbury has told me, as a private friend, that the statement with regard to himself is wholly untrue.