HC Deb 03 April 1856 vol 141 c384
MR. W. EWART

said, he would bog to inquire whether any measures were being adopted to procure the removal, by the Government of Greece, of export duties and dimes, stated in the Report from our Consuls as pressing injuriously on commerce with that country?

VISCOUNT PALMERSTON

Sir, the subject referred to by my hon. Friend has been for a considerable time a matter of communication between the Greek and the British Governments, but up to the present time no satisfactory result has been obtained, and I fear that I cannot hold out to him or to the House any well-founded expectations that better success will arise, for such is the administrative capacity of those who at present rule Greece that there is no part of the Greek territory in which person or property is safe during any part of the twenty-four hours, except the three miles of road between Athens and the Piræus, which are patrolled night and day by the French cavalry.

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