The Marquis of Londonderryobserved, that although the papers now before the House afforded a mass of information upon the subject of the proceedings of the Allied Powers with regard to Greece, yet, as there had been diplomatic transactions of three years standing, it was quite clear they could not furnish all the information which the nature of the subject demanded. There were some parts which he wished to be clearly made out, especially with respect to the conduct of Russia towards Turkey, and he, therefore, wished to ask the noble Earl, whom he saw in his place, whether there was any objection to give the House copies of the Despatches of our Ambassador at Constantinople, relating to the mode in which 1257 the assent of Russia had been obtained to the giving up of two millions of ducats that she at first claimed as compensation from the Porte. He also wished to know whether there was any objection to furnish copies of the Conferences held at Poros.
§ The Earl of Aberdeenanswered, that the reason why the copies of all the conferences had not been given was, that the. substance of them was embodied in the Protocols that had been laid on the Table of the House. As to the copies of the despatches, he could not give any answer till he had had time to consider how far the interests of other powers, as well as of this country, would be affected by laying them on the Table.
The Marquis of Londonderrysaid, that the noble Earl must perceive it was essential to arrive at the point to which he had already referred, namely, whether Russia had abandoned so large a portion of the compensation she claimed from the Turks, merely in order to induce Turkey to concede what was demanded from her by the Allied Powers, or whether Russia had other motives for that concession.
Lord Hollandasked the noble Earl opposite, whether he was clearly to understand it to be the noble Earl's intention to lay before the House copies of the conferences that had taken place at Poros. He wished to know whether the fullest information would be afforded with respect to the disputes relating to the boundaries of Greece; and also whether any person had been specially deputed by his Majesty's Government to attend the discussions upon that subject.
§ The Earl of Aberdeensaid, that he believed in the copies of the Conferences at Poros the noble Lord would find all the information he required. A very full report of the discussions referred to would be found in them. No person had been specially deputed to make such a report, but he believed the noble Lord would find the papers very full upon that subject.
Lord Hollandhad asked the question, because, having attentively gone through the mass of those papers already before the House, he really was unable to divine the reasons which had induced the Allies to change the boundaries of Greece as settled by them on the 22nd of March. Now, as that change was one of a most important nature, he really was most anxious to know the reasons which had induced the Allied Powers to make it.