COLONEL DUNNEsaid, he wished to put a question to the noble Lord the Member for the City of London, of which he had given him notice, relative to certain alleged altercations between the Governments of Turkey and Greece on the occupation by the former of some villages on the Greek, frontier, whether any steps had been taken to arbitrate between the two Governments; and whether, if any correspondence had taken place on the subject, the noble Lord would object to its production?
§ LORD JOHN RUSSELLsaid, that there had been no arbitration upon the differences between the Governments of Greece and Turkey relative to the possession of certain villages on the frontier. The Turkish Government claimed the occupation of these villages, and had expressed their intention of sending troops to occupy them. The Greek Government disputed the claim, and intimated their intention of despatching, and they did, in fact, despatch a force to the frontier to prevent the Turks from taking possession of the villages. The English Government, in conjunction with the representatives of the other Powers at Constantinople, intimated their wish to the Turkish Government that no forcible measures should be taken until the question had been consider- 431 ed.. The question was considered by the representatives of Great Britain, France, and Russia, and the opinion they came to —he believed unanimously—was that these villages, according to the settlement of the boundary of 1832, belonged to Turkey. That opinion was intimated to the Greek Government; but he was not aware what further steps had been taken at Athens. The hon. and gallant Gentleman would see that this was not an arbitration, but a decision binding upon the two parties.