HC Deb 02 July 1863 vol 172 cc65-6
COLONEL FRENCH

said, he rose to ask the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies, In what manner the desire of the inhabitants of the Ionian Islands to be annected to the Kingdom of Greece is to be tested?

MR. CHICHESTER FORTESCUE

said, that the obvious and most proper mode of testing the wishes of the inhabitants of the Ionian Islands was by dissolving the present Parliament and summoning a new Parliament, informing them at the same time by proclamation of the special object for which they were called together. His noble Friend (the Duke of Newcastle) was now in communication with Sir Henry Storks on the subject, so that he was at present unable to answer the Question of his hon. and gallant Friend.

COLONEL FRENCH

Has no proposition been made to test the desires of the inhabitants of the Ionian Islands, as it was done in the case of Savoy and Naples, by universal suffrage?