MR. GIBSON BOWLES (Lynn Regis)To ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether His Majesty's Government is aware that a contract has 1488 been signed by the Greek authorities at Corfu, selling to a Franco-Belgian Company the British cemetery at Corfu, to be used as the site for building a gambling casino; and what steps have been taken to maintain the treaty stipulations confirming to His Majesty's Government the property of the British cemeteries in the Ionian Islands and to preserve the cemetery in question from desecration.
(Answered, by Lord, Cranborne.) This matter is receiving careful attention. The site of the British cemetery has not been transferred, but it is understood that a company desire to acquire it for the purpose of building baths and a casino Gambling houses are forbidden by Greek law. A special Report on the whole question is expected within the next few days, on receipt of which the points raised in the latter part of the Question will be duly considered. The greatest care will be taken to prevent any action offensive to the very natural feelings which have been aroused by the use it has been proposed to make of these cemeteries.