§ MR. BOURKEasked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Whether any reply has been received from Her Majesty's Minister at Athens to the Despatch of Earl Granville, dated January 10th, 1881, authorizing him to take part in a representation to the Greek Government in favour of arbitration, as suggested by France, but cautioning him to take care not to commit himself to any arguments which would lead Greece to suppose that her refusal of the proposal would entail the abandonment of her interests, although it was very desirable that this reservation should not be mentioned to the Greek Government?
§ SIR CHARLES W. DILKESir, the authority given to Mr. Corbett in the despatch to which my right hon. Friend refers is conditional on—
The foreign representatives at Athens making a collective or simultaneous representation to the Greek Government in favour of arbitration on the frontier question, as suggested by your French colleague;but, as the French proposal was withdrawn, no such representation was made, and the instruction consequently fell to the ground.
§ MR. BOURKEWas there any answer?
§ SIR CHARLES W. DILKENot such an answer as my right hon. Friend means. There was a sort of formal answer.