MR. GIBSON BOWLES (Lynn Regis)I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, by the treaty of 29th March, 1864, between Great Britain, France, Russia, and Greece, whereby the Ionian Islands were ceded to Greece, and by the vote of the Ionian Assembly forming one of the bases of that treaty, the right of pro- 914 perty in the English cemeteries in the Ionian States was confirmed to the Government of the her Britannic majesty; whether the Greek authorities now propose to lease, or have leased, the English cemetery in Corfu to a Franco-Belgian company for the purpose of erecting therein a casino; whether the consent of His Majesty's Government has been asked for and obtained to this transaction; and what steps His Majesty's Government has been asked for and obtained to this transaction; and what steps His Majesty's Government propose to take to prevent the desecration of the graves of the distinguished British civil and military officers and other British subjects buried in this cemetery.
§ LORD CRANBORNEWith regard to the first part of the Question, it is the case that the right of property in the English cemeteries in the Ionian States was confirmed to Her Majesty's Government by the vote of the Ionian Assembly of October 12th -19th, 1863, which formed one of he bases of the Treaty of March 29th, 1864. Negotiations were, however, opened in 1891 for the transfer of the old cemeteries to the Greek authorities. No final arrangement has been arrived at, but His Majesty's Government have been careful to signify that, in the event of such a transfer, proper precautions must be taken to prevent the desecration of the cemetery. Enquiry will be made, and the whole subject will, if necessary, be reconsidered before any further proceedings are taken to complete the transfer.