§ LORD CHARNWOODMy Lords, I wish to ask His Majesty s Government whether they will consider the propriety of sending an official representative of this country to the forthcoming celebrations at Athens and Missolonghi of the centenary of Byron's death. The Government and your Lordships will sympathise, I am sure, with my purpose in bringing this matter to the notice of the House.
§ LORD PARMOORMy Lords, I can give an answer which I hope will be satisfactory to the noble Lord. His Majesty's Government intend to profit by the fact that certain of His Majesty's ships are to be in Greek waters in the month of April. They will be present in the Gulf of Patras on April 19 in order to participate, by the firing of a salute and in such other ways as may appear desirable, in the celebration to be held at Missolonghi on that date. An invitation from the Greek Government to send out an official Mission has likewise been accepted, and steps are accordingly being taken to arrange for the despatch of a suitable delegation to represent His Majesty's Government at the centenary celebrations. Those are the celebrations in connection with the centenary of the death of Lord Byron.