The Sun.
London, England, 1854-04-28 00:00:00

GREEK CHRISTIANS.

Mr. COBDEN asked Lord John Russell whether the
Government contemplated laying before Parliament any
papers relating to the insurrection of the Greek Christians
in Turkey, and explanatory of our present relations with
the court of Athens? The hon. member ins,le the usual
formal motion for an adjournment, to enable him to enter
into a lengthened statement upon the subject of the trade
of Turkey, and to explain that several Greek houses who
were mainly concerned in that trade had been expelled from
Turkey because, although born subjects of the Porte, they
had become naturalised Greeks.

Lord J. RT.JSELL replied that the Government hoped
in a short time to be in a position to lay before the house
all the papers they had received on the subject, and it
would then be seen that lie was right in stating that the
Government of Athens had been mainly instrumental in
fomenting the Greek insurrection. It would also be shown
that there were strong reasons to justify the Porte in making
the expulsion to which the hon. member had referred, be-
cause it was clear that the parties expelled, although resid-
ing in Turkey, were subjects of a hostile power. The Greek
insurrection was one of the consequences which might have
been foreseen from the unjustifiable conduct of the Empe-
ror of Russia, for which there was scarcely an apologist to
be found anywhere, except, perhaps, the hon. member for
the West Riding. (Cheers and laughter).
Mr. BRIGHT took the same view of this question as the
honourable member for the West Riding, and insisted that
the demands which Turkey had made upon the Government
of Athens were as unjustifiable and impolitic as her expul-
sion of Greek naturalised subjects. Neither be nor his
honourable friend were the advocates or supporters of the
Emperor of Rt.. ; but both of them deprecated the
langu Igo which the noble lord had held out towards
that potentate as well as the Government of Athena.
Turkey required that Greece .hotil I put down the
freedom of the press—a most indefensible demand ; and
yet-her Majesty's Government were upholding Turkey in
that demand. He denied that the Government of Athens
was responsible for the Greek insurrection, as it was called,
and if the noble lord would consent to lay the papers on
the table without cur. Ailment or omission whatever, he
was satisfied they would bear him out in that state-
ment. We ha el entered into this war for the
protection of Turkey, but the vast majority of
her inhabitants were Greeks ; and the fact was, we were
now resisting the rights of th very people whom we pro-
posed to protect. The fact was, the Greek element was
the great difficulty of this question ; and he must tell the
nobl lord that it would be got over neither by his abuse
of the Emperor of Russia► nor the sneers which he indulged
in at the expense of his hon. friend the member for the
West Riding.
Mr. LAYARD defended the course taken by the Turkish
Government. The Greeks they had expelled; although
enjoying great privileges under Turkish toleration, had
yet been rash enough to subscribe large sums to-
wards the Greek insurrection, and he did not won-
der that Turkey was compelled to resort to their
expulsion. There was no denying the fact that the
Government of Greece was mainly responsible for the
Greek insurrection, and they had brought it about partly
with the aid of that free press of which the hon. member
for Manchester seemed to speak so feelingly. The Greek
press, however, was not free, because it was s Aject to the
control of the Government of Athens, and it would be a
mistake to suppose that a comparison could be drawn be-
tween it and the press of this country.
Sir J. GRAHAM rose, and was'
[LEFT SPEAKING.]

THE LONDON GAZETTE
(THIS EVENING.)

LORD CHAMBERLAIN'S OFFICE, APRIL 18.
Notice is hereby given, that her Majesty will hold Draw-
ing-Rooms at St. James's Palace, on the following days,
at two o'clock :—Thursday, 11th May next. Saturday,
23th May next, to celebrate her Majesty's Birth-day.
N.B. The Knights of the several Orders are to appear
in their Collars, at the Drawing-Room on the 20th of May
next.