§ MR. A. HELDER (Whitehaven)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, whether his attention has been called to the claim of the English contractors for the Piræus 175 Larissa Railway against the Greek Government, who, having first made default in payment of the instalments due to the contractors for work done on the railway, then arbitrarily cancelled the contract, notwithstanding the fact that they had obtained a loan of £3,595,000 for the express purpose of making the railway, which conduct on the part of the Greek Government has occasioned to the contractors serious losses, for which they have not been able to obtain any redress; and, whether Her Majesty's advisers will take such steps as may be required to enforce the claims of the contractors?
§ THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS (Mr. GEORGE CURZON,) Lancashire, SouthportUnofficial representations have on several occasions been made to the Greek Government in connection with the claim of the English contractors for the Piræus-Larissa Railway. These representations have not been successful, the Greek Government maintaining that the contractors have failed to fulfil their engagements, and that they must be left to their legal remedies. The contractors have been informed of this decision, and told that the matter is not one which in its present state admits of official diplomatic intervention. They, however, maintain that they have already exhausted the legal remedies open to them, and that there has been a clear denial of public justice which would warrant such intervention. They are preparing a statement to this effect, which, when received, will be duly considered.