HC Deb 10 May 1849 vol 105 c194
MR. B. COCHRANE

, seeing the noble Lord the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs now in his place, which was a rare sight at the time for questions, wished to ask him whether the British Government were still paying the interest on the Greek loan, and whether he intended to insist on that being paid by the Greek Government?

VISCOUNT PALMENSTON

said, as the Greek Government had made no payment of the interest, and as this country had guaranteed the payment, it had fallen on us to make it good. Government were in communication with the Government of Greece, and continually pressing upon them the necessity of making good their engagements. That Government promised to pay the interest with the first produce of the Greek revenue; but that, he was sorry to say, had been so small that they had not hitherto done so.

MR. B. COCHRANE

hoped the British Government would insist upon payment. The answer of the noble Viscount was precisely the same now as he had got six years ago.

VISCOUNT PALMERSTON

said, the House was in possession of all the information on the subject; but they would recollect that England was only one of three Powers who had guaranteed the payment of the loan, and England therefore could not take a separate course from France or Russia.

Subject dropped.