§ MR. J. R. YORKEasked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Whether his attention has been called to a "Notice to British Subjects" recently issued by Her Majesty's Consul at Corfu, in the following terms:—
Notice to British Subjects.—The undersigned has just received from Her Majesty's Consul for the Morea a despatch informing him That the authorities in Acarnania consider it dangerous for sportsmen and others landing from yachts on that coast, as there are several brigand chiefs on the frontier who might form plans for their capture, especially if they remain many days on the same spot.' Ali British subjects therefore leaving Corfu on shooting expeditions are hereby cautioned, as the Greek Government, after giving this notice, will not be answerable for any ransom that the brigands might exact.—Her Majesty's Consulate, Corfu, 11th November 1879. Signed, R. Reade, H.M.'s Consul;and, whether the condition of Acarnania so described is exceptional, or may be taken as a fair specimen of the normal security for life and property which is enjoyed, throughout the Hellenic Kingdom?
§ MR. BOURKESir, it is true that a notice to that effect was issued in November last by Her Majesty's Consul at Corfu. Her Majesty's Minister at Athens reported on the 27th of the same month 512 that some cases of brigandage having occurred in Greece, a very stringent law for its repression, which had been enacted in 1871 for a period of four years, and which had then proved effective, had been a second time put into force for a period of eight months. In respect to the effect of that law on the population, I am not in a position to say more at the present moment.