The Sun.
London, England, 1870-04-30 00:00:00

~~

THE SUN, LONDON, SATURDAY EVENING, APRIL 30, 1870.

SHARE LIST.

THE CALAMITY IN GREECE.
MORE OFFICIAL CORRESPONDENCE.

RAILWAYS-ORDINARY SHARES AND STOCKS.

Another batch of letters between the Foreign Office,
Mr. Erskine, the English Ambassador, at Athens, the
captives, and other persons connected with the late de-
plorable affair in Greece, has just been issued. The first
letter is from Mr: Erskine. It was received on Friday,
and is dated April 21st, and still records only events which
happened before the massacre. The brigands at this date
remained obstinate. " The difficulty still is that the bri'
Bands insist on either an amnesty or a free pardon after
trial and conviction by default ; whereas the Government
say that the former is directly contrary to an Article of
the Constitution, and the latter unlawful, as the Crown
cannot grant a pardon until the accused person has ap-
peared before the competent tribunal, and been tried
and convicteda process in which these men have not the
least intention to acquiesce. If the brigands will content
themselves with the exorbitant ransom which the prisoners
have already consented t pay; the Government will gives
hostages who would accompany the band to the frontief;
or until they feel completely safe. But neither Mr.
Herbert nor the Government emissaries, have been able
to induce Arvanitakis to accept these terms. In one of
my recent letters to Mr. Herbert, I asked him to sound
the brigand chief (as if from himself) as to whether he
would be disposed to leave the country on board a British
vessel of war, but Mr. Herbert tells me that he shewed
no inclination to quit Greece if he can help it."
It seems that the marauders complained that they had
been slighted ; the persons sent to treat with them were
not of sufficiently " high standing " to deal with such
great men ; and Mr. Erskine therefore persuaded the
Greek Premier to send Colonel Theagenis, aide-
de-camp to General Church, and a gentleman of
high character. " Before starting, Colonel Th6agenis
received his instructions from the whole Cabinet in
my presence, and I am-bound to say that complete lati-
tude has been left him as to the terms to be granted, ex-
cept on the two points to which I have already adverted,
and on which the Government cannot give way. In all
other respects he is to be most conciliatory, and he was
good enough to promise that he would himself accompany
the'brigands as a hostage, in case they could be induced
to liberate the captives." It appears that the com-
mander •of a French ship in the neighbourhood
offered to land troops on the coast to assist
in surrounding the robbers but this offer
was not accepted. Mr. Erskine's fetter contains another
important passage :—" M. Zaimis has assured both my
Italian colleague and myself that upwards of 600 troops
are collected in the immediate neighbourhood of Oropos ;
and, although there is not the least intention on their part
to provoke a collision, they are fully authorised to employ
force should it unfortunately be necessary to prevent the
escape of the brigands and their captives."
Several communications were enclosed in this letter to
Lord Clarendon. Three are notes written by Mr. Her-
bert, one of the captives, to Mr. Erskine. The first is
dated April 16th, and was written in the neighbourhood
of Oropos, where the brigands had stationed themselves.
Mr. Herbert observed that matters were not progressing
very favourably, for the brigand chief de-
clared that unless he had the money and the amnesty
in two or three days, he would not release the
captives, but would do the other thing. "By amnesty he
does not understand anything but a guarantee that he and
his band will not be molested for past offences. I have
not spoken to the person sent, because I am not allowed
to do so ; but I doubt their having power to explain
matters to him at all authoritatively. You mentioned
that the King would pardon them if they were tried at
Athens. They say they might be tried in their absence
and pardoned. I suppose it would be impossible for the
King to write a letter to you or Minerva, pro-
mising them freedom from punishment for past
offences. My own opinion is that if it were not
for the persistence of the captain, the band would accept
proffered terms."
The second letter from Mr. Herbert contains little that
is noticeable. "We are well and kindly treated, and
shall be so as long as the captain believes, as he still does
confidently, that the Government will find some means of
granting him amnesty or pardon for all past offences
which will not be contrary to the Constitu-
tion, for which, however, they have no respect."
In the third letter, which is dated April 17th, Mr.
Herbert reports the Greek chief to be still impracticable.
" He says that the representatives of England and Italy
should say to the Greek Government that they do not
care at all how the thing is done, whether by amnesty or
no, whether an amnesty be legal or not, but that all they
require is the return of their people, faute de quoi the
fleets of England and Italy will destroy Greece. On such
a representation, he says, the Greeks would find a way
quickly, as he says they do not care for laws, &c." The
usual threat had been repeated.
Likewise enclosed in the despatch of Mr. Erskine to the
Earl of Clarendon is a letter from Mr. Lloyd to his wife. It
is dated from Oropos. " The difficulty is that our captor
cannot trust the Government. He requires an amnesty for
himself and his band ; this, in the legal sense of the
word, the King has no power to give. What he
wants, in substance, is an assurance of pardon for
all past misdeeds. I should suggest that this might be E
done by a letter from the King, addressed to the nglish
and Italian Ministers, stating that if the Chief and his
band will submit to trial and sentence, either by submit-
ting themselves to the authorities at once, or by allowing
sentence to go by default, the King will thereupon grant
them a free pardon. I see no other way out of the
difficulty."
Also enclosed with Mr. Erskine's despatch is a note
from M. Zaimis, the Greek Premier, to Colonel Th6agenis
who was sent to treat with the robbers. M. Zaimis had
heard that the brigands meant to leave Oropos. In that
case troops were to blockade the neighbourhood, and after
the " surround " had been completely accomplished the
robbers were to be told that they might have the ransom
and go where they pleased provided they gave up the
captives.
The Greek journals by no means supported the Govern-
ment on this occasion. One of the chief, which is gene-
rally on the side of the Administration, condemned the
incapacity and supineness betrayed by the Ministry It
considers the disgrace of this capture irretrievable.
' How is it that formidable bands of brigands sojourn
in the province of Attica, warm themselves by the fires of
Athens, whilst the Government, who have at their dis-
posal numerous troops and a numerous staff of employes,
and who possess all the means required to learn what
occurs or Is plotted in the province, ignores their existence,
and neither succeeds in discovering nor attacking them
It is an unquestionable fact that a month ago the bands
of Spano and of the Arvanitaki had penetrated into and
were roving about the province of Attica, and that the
Government had been informed of this, the necessary
military form, having been demanded for their
negligencenevertheless,
has
takenf or
whose
eesrayke
man,asd
place, and marked indifference in the steps taken? We
reject the audacious supposition of some persons that the
itptuhrastuit. such gross Aonsscil
toleration of the bands of brigands in Attica, and the
laxity manifested in their pursuit, are attributed to the
in order to
secure his property, to negotiate with the brigands and
position of the Minister of War, who, as one of the
greatest
protect them. The character of the person accused does
for social and
political ties, should such an accusation be proved against
for public security in-Greece, and evenall
not permit such a supposition. We should- indeed, despair
a Minister."

informal, but we all know that for their own people ni
informality is too monstrous, and I therefdre think th
Government should be strongly pressed to concede, tc
provide the means of executing it. I shall be glad if yoi
will shew this letter to Erskine and support my views (i
you can do so) with all your energy." Mr. Lloyd add;
that if the troops moved against the robbers, the lives o
the captives would be sacrificed:
Mr. Noel writes this to Mr. 11:rakine :—"I have beet
here since this morning, and after every endeavour I an
unable to come to any understanding wits
the brigand chiefs ; they persist in being
amnestied. They will not agree to deliver theraselvek
up to the authorities, notwithstanding the King'f
promise of pardon after trial. From my acquaintance
with the country and the people we have to deal with,
some prompt measures must be taken in order to save the
lives of the captives. I know you will excuse my taking
the liberty of writing thus freely, from your knowledge of
the painful situation in which the captives are placed ;
however, I will write you again from Chalcis."
In a letter dated °ropes, April 21, Mr. Herbert says :
" The band I have no doubt, Will come to terms. They
strongly hope they may be tried by a court in some village
out here, and if that is impossible, I think they will
eventually accept exile. They have perfect cotiff,
dente in the power of the British Government, and
legation, though they will trust no Greek whatever, and
for the latter reasoli I believe theywould never go to prison
for a day. I wonder whether the Turks would give them
an amnesty?"
The last communication is from Colonel Th‘agais, who
was sent to treat with the brigands by the Greek Premier.
He had had an interview with the brigand chief, who had
refused to make any terms unless the amnesty were de-
clared. The colonel said the Constitution would not permit an
amnesty. Let the Constitution be altered, was, in effect,
the cool reply of the chief. The proposal of a trial with
a pardon afterwards was mooted, but the brigands refused
to be tried except at the village—not at Athens: Colonel
Thdag6nis could not accede to this, and he therefore Carrie
away without making terms.