§ MR. DARBY GRIFFITHsaid, he would beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury, Whether the Government intend to complete the transference of the Ionian Islands to the possession of any other Power, without any further reference to the approval or consent of Parliament?
§ VISCOUNT PALMERSTONSir, the Ionian Islands were erected into an Independent State, and placed, as such under the protection of Great Britain by treaty, and not by any action of Parliament; and therefore, if any change should be made in their condition, it will be made in the same manner as that in which the original arrangement was concluded—namely, by treaty. Of course, that treaty will be laid on the table of the House.
§ MR. SEYMOUR FITZGERALDI wish, Sir, to ask another Question, in consequence of the reply of the noble Lord. The cession of the Ionian Islands will not be completed, I presume, without communication with the various parties who signed the Treaty of Vienna, and those communications may have a serious effect upon our relations with Foreign Powers. I wish, therefore, to ask the noble Lord, Whether he will take care that the communications with those Powers shall be laid upon the table, in order that this House may have an opportunity of considering their probable effect on our relations with Foreign Powers, before the cession of the Islands is completed?
§ VISCOUNT PALMERSTONI do not apprehend that there is any chance of any communication taking place between this Government and any parties to the Treaty of Vienna, with regard to the cession of the Ionian Islands, which can endanger in any way the friendly relations of this country with Foreign Powers. The course of the transaction is not finally settled. Whatever is proper and fitting to be laid before Parliament, and required to be laid before Parliament, will be laid on the table of the House.
§ LORD JOHN MANNERSI beg to ask the noble Lord the Questions of which I have given notice—Whether the Vote of the Ionian Chambers upon the proposed cession of the Seven Islands to Greece is to be taken before the consent of the Powers of Europe, assembled in Congress, to that cession has been obtained; whether the Congress is to be confined to the Powers who were signatories of the Treaties of 1815, or whether it is to comprise all the Powers of Europe, including Turkey; whether, in the event of Turkey not being invited to attend the Congress, any communication will be addressed to the Sublime Porte on the subject; and whether the consent of all, or only of the majority of the Powers assembled in Congress, will be required to authorize the cession.
§ VISCOUNT PALMERSTONI cannot at present state in what order communications will take place. Of course, the cession cannot be completed without, in the first place, the consent and wish of the Ionians, and in the next place without the consent of the parties who signed the Treaty of Vienna. Those only who signed that treaty will have a voice in the matter. Turkey did not sign it, and therefore Turkey will not be called upon to give her assent or dissent; but naturally Turkey is acquainted with what is in contemplation. As to whether all the signatories will be required to consent, I apprehend there is no likelihood of any dissenting voice if the great majority are of opinion that on European grounds the cession should be made.
§ LORD JOHN MANNERSI understand from the noble Lord that in his opinion there will be no material difference in the judgment of the great Powers, and therefore he does not anticipate the case I supposed will arise. But in the event of a difference of opinion arising, what then is to be the course of proceeding? Is the consent of all the great Powers necessary, or is the arrangement to be carried out by the majority?
§ VISCOUNT PALMERSTONThat is more a point of international law. But I think it is quite clear that supposing the great majority—say all but one—consent to the arrangement, and the Ionians and Greeks also agree to it, it is not likely any one Power will set up its dissent against the opinion of the majority.