Dedicated то VISCOUNT STRATFORD DE REDCLIFFE, WITH THE ADMIRATION WHICH ALL ACCORD TO HIM, AND THE ESTEEM WHICH HAS GROWN WITH A FRIENDSHIP OF MORE THAN FORTY YEARS. believe that Greece would be satisfied with the line of delimitation mentioned by Sir Henry Layard. Under these circumstances, I do not think that Greece has any right to complain of the advice given by England. Greece ought to recollect this now, and did recollect it at the time, because she acknowledged that Turkey had a large Army and a large Navy, and it was only by the earnest desire of England that that Army and Navy were not used against Greece. It would have been a great evil and a great misfortune for Greece, if that country had been made the theatre of a contest between the two nations. At that time there was a great alarm in Greece, and the Greek Government not only besought Her Majesty's Government to interpose, but thanked Her Majesty's Government in the warmest terms for having prevented Turkey from attacking her. Well, Sir, it has been always the opinion of Her Majesty's Government that Turkey would do wisely to make such arrangements with regard to her Frontier as would restore peace between the two countries. I quite agree with the right hon. Gentleman the Member for Greenwich, that the question is not as to one particular town or one particular line. The great object is to restore peace, and to do it in such a way that it will be a permanent peace, and that populations which for centuries, or, at least, within the memory of men, have not been able to live peaceably, might for the future be able to do so. We have impressed on Turkey that if she makes a territorial sacrifice she will be amply compensated for that sacrifice by being relieved from the necessity of keeping up a large Army on her Frontier, exhausting her resources by continual expeditions, keeping up large garrisons, receiving no tribute, and having a population on her border in a state of insurrection. It may be said that one of the difficulties of the situation is to find a defensible Frontier. I believe that the present Frontier may be said to be the most defensible Frontier that can be obtained, and I wish to say that, because I think it one of the strongest points that Turkey has. But when one comes to think of it, I do not think it, in reality, a strong point at all; because a Frontier may be one of the strongest Frontiers in the world, but it may be a very bad Frontier for the maintenance of peace. One of the greatest enemies of peace is brigandage. Sir, the very fact of the Frontier being a mountain in which brigands abound is a reason why it should remain a strong Frontier; but that does not render it a good Frontier. Sir, when the Congress took place, Her Majesty's Government did what could best be done by mediation. There is no evidence whatever to show, in all these Papers, that any Power of Europe was prepared to force the opinion of Congress upon Turkey. In fact, I am prepared to state that there was no Government in Europe prepared to do so. There was no Government in Europe prepared to force the opinion of Congress upon Turkey; and, therefore, that being so, Her Majesty's Government thought that the best, and really the only, way to bring about the agreement between the two Powers, and to effect the object they all had in view, was to endeavour to get the two Powers to agree among themselves. This is really the whole key to their position. They have never held back for one, instant. What they said was this-" We believe the best way to arrange this matter is to endeavour to get these two Powers to agree. At the same time, when the proper time arrives, if they do not agree, we are ready to go forward with mediation." The hon. Baronet says in October we broke off the concert of Europe. We did the exact reverse. We got the Powers to adopt our views. We received the support of every Government. We received the support of France, of Italy, of Germany-notwithstanding all that was said by the hon. Baronet. We received the support of Austria, and we received both the support and gratitude of Greece. I will just read one or two quotations from the despatch of Mr. Corbett to the Marquess of Salisbury, dated Athens, December 26, 1878, in which he says "M. Delyanni showed me yesterday the note mentioned in my despatch of the 25th instant, which he has just received from the Turkish Chargé d'Affaires, and expressed the satisfaction felt by the Greek Government that at last the Sublime Porte had recognized the principle of a cession of territory by Turkey to Greece." All this time we had been endeavouring to press on Turkey the advisability of making that concession. "His Excellency and M. Coumoundouros, the Prime Minister, both requested me to convey to Sir Henry Layard the thanks of the Greek Government for the interest he had shown in the matter of the rectification of the frontier, as reported by the Greek Minister at Constantinople. They attributed to his friendly co-operation the present favourable aspect of the question." Sir Henry Layard was publicly thanked by the Greek Government for the interest he had shown in the matter of the rectification of the Frontier; and now the hon. Baronet comes forward and charges him with being cold and lukewarm on the subject. I think the House will agree with me that, considering the mediatorial attitude which, at this moment, both Her Majesty's Government and the other Governments of Europe are occupying with regard to Turkey and the Greek question, I may be excused from going into matters of detail respecting the boundary. If I were to do so, I should really break faith with the other Governments of Europe. I observe that only a few days ago the Italian Prime Minister made a remark of that kind in another Assembly; and, therefore, I hope the House will excuse me from going into minute detail with regard to the boundary line between the two countries. The hon. Gentleman (Mr. Shaw Lefevre), and the hon. Baronet (Sir Charles W. Dilke), both mentioned the case of Janina. I do not believe there can be any doubt that the general description given of Janina is correct. I do not think anybody can read descriptions of Janina without coming to the conclusion that it is practically Greek. But I do not wish to be supposed to be in favour of the cession of Janina or against it. That is the question now to be decided at Constantinople. Therefore, it would be extremely improper to give an opinion one way or the other. Although I admit that it is, no doubt, a Greek town, at the same time, I cannot help thinking that there is a strong Albanian nationality, and that there is a strong feeling in Albania against the cession of Janina; and it really is not wise in those who will have great influence in acting as mediators in this case to ignore the strong points on one side, whilst giving effect to the strong points on the other side. I am not disposed to think lightly of Albanian nationality. They are an ancient and historic race. We find the Albanians in olden times described by Herodotus and Pliny as being a wild and uncouth race, brave, and primitive in their modes of living. All the characteristics attributed to them are those of the Albanians of the present day. I do not believe there is any evidence to show that Albanians will peacefully submit to absorption of any kind. That is a question that is to be decided hereafter, and it is unwise to shut our eyes to that question. It may be taken for granted that any cession of territory which may be made must be such as to meet with the approval of the Albanians themselves; otherwise, more harm than good will result. I have no doubt whatever that it is most expedient for Turkey to make a cession of territory, and a liberal cession of territory, for the reasons I have already mentioned. Everybody must also agree that it is most expedient for Greece to be reasonable in her demands, and to live on friendly terms with Turkey. She must recollect that there are other Powers which may be more dangerous to her than Turkey; for, after all, whatever may be said against the Turkish Government, it cannot be denied that Hellenic institutions have been allowed to flourish under Turkish rule. I believe it, therefore, to be of the greatest importance to Greece that she should entertain friendly relations with Turkey. The right hon. Gentleman (Mr. Gladstone) says it is exceptionally hard for Greece that Her |