§ LORD DUDLEY STUARTwished to put the following question to the noble Lord the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs: Whether the Government will take into consideration the propriety of appointing a Commission to inquire into the manner in which the sum paid annually by England, France, and Russia, on behalf of the Government of Greece, has hitherto been expended; and to ascertain in what manner it would be desirable for the interests of Greece to lay out that large sum for the future? By the treaty with Greece, when that kingdom was first established, this country, in conjunction with France and Russia, guaranteed a loan to the Greek Government. There was a stipulation in the convention then come to of a very peculiar character, under which' one would suppose this country never would be called upon to pay any money. Nevertheless, by the practical working of that treaty, England had been called upon to pay annually a large sum, amounting to 40,000l., on account of the Greek Government.
§ VISCOUNT PALMERSTONsaid, it was quite true that by the treaty which was made in respect to Greece, it was thought that security had been taken against any liability being incurred by the three Powers for the payment of the interest of the loan granted to Greece. The stipulation of the treaty was, that the first produce of the Greek revenue should be applied to the payment of the interest of the debt, and then in reduction of the debt itself, and after that the surplus was to be applied to the current service of the State. He was sorry to say that from first to last that engagement had been disregarded by the 1951 Greek Government, and the consequence had been that a liability had been incurred by the three Governments. That had been made the subject of repeated representations and communications between this country and the Government of Greece, and also between the British, the French, and the Russian Governments. He regretted to say, that, hitherto, those representations and communications had not led to any definite result. He was bound to say, that it was less excusable on the part of the Greek Government, because if that Government had properly managed its financial affairs, it would have had ample means of meeting the demands upon it. The deficiency of its revenue was the excuse which the Greek Government put forward; but that arose very much from the irregular and inadequate arrangements for collecting the revenue, as well as from the reckless expenditure when that revenue was raised. He was also afraid there had been a laxity, arising in a great degree from an indisposition on the part of the Greek Government to submit to that constitutional system which was forced upon them in 1832, by the insurrection of the Greek people; and which they had endeavoured to evade, practically by means tending very greatly to diminish the financial resources of that country. It was needless for him to say that circumstances occurred last year which rendered it difficult for the English Government to seek any settlement with Greece. He should feel it his duty to communicate on this matter with the Governments of France and Russia, with a view of making some impression of a sense of right and justice on the Government of Greece.