Newbern progress., 1863-02-04
England and the IonIan islands

The islands off the western coast of Greece
commonly known as the Ionian Islands, fcrm-
erly belonged to the Republic of Venice, and
changed hands more than once before they
came under the protection of England. It was
from no wish either of the EnglisE Government
or the English people that the Protectorate= of
these islands was conferred upon England, and
there are few persons who would not be glad
to see that Protectorate abandoned, and the
Ionian Islands added to the Kingdom of Greece.
The reasons which induced the English Cow
ernment to accept the Protectorate of these
islands have quite passed away. and there arc
Seme other reasons which would make the
people and Government of England very glad
to be freed from the costly and inyidious task.
The object for which the Ionian Islands were
placed under the protection of England was
that they might not fall into the hands of either
France or Russia. It was considered a matter
of first-rate importance at that time to uphold
the Austrian empire in its possessions on both
sides of the Adriatic. The Austrian posses
|sions in Venice and Lombardy were considered
to be threatened by the French; whilst the
possessions of Austria in Dalmatia and Illyria
were thought to be threatened by Russia.
These dangers have very much diminished, If
they have not altogether ceased and even II
they should arise again, England could do
quite as much to avert them by sending Heet
from Malta to guard the passage into the Adri-
attic as she could do by holding possession of a
group of islands at the entrance of that sea- 1t
is not however, by force that ary of the coun-
tries around the Adriatic arc now threatened,
bat by political movements; and there is moth
ing in the manner in which those countries
are governed by Austria that would at all IN
duce the English people or Government to
make sacrifices to uphold the Austrian author
.ity. The only English interest in the Adriatic
is in the right of way from Trieste, Venice and
Ancona to Malta and Alexandria AS the mar
rowest part of the entrance into the Adriatlc
is from thirty to forty miles wide, it is not IN
the power of any one to close the passage
against as. We possess two impregnable po-
sitions In the Mediterranean, namely those OF
Malta and Gibraltar, and the necessity to de-
fend greater number of positions in that sea
is cause of weakness and not of strength.
The only two things that England requires in
the Mediterranean are freedom to trade With
the countries on its shores, and freedom to
pass through it to Egypt and the overland
route to India. Both these objects are per-
fsctly secured by the possession Of Malta ana
Gibraltar, and therefore the holding OF the
Ionian Islands is Only awaste OF money and
of troops.
There is however another and much strong
er reason why It would be very desirable to
free ourselves from the task of governing the
Ionian Islands. Since we undertook that duty
the independence Of Greece has been estab-
EllSUe0s anu tG0 StFOUSSSt WioA CAtobo lu snOSS
islands to unite themselves with the Kingdom
of Greece This wish is very natural, consid-
ering the common origin of the people, their
ancient connection, and their agreement IN
language and religion. From these causes
they were passionately eager to be united to
the Kingdom Of Greece, even when it was
under the rule of King Otho, and when they
could not have joined that kingdom without
losing that security for person and property
which they enjoyed under he rule OF England
This desire will become much stronger If q
really good government should be established
in Greece. In that case our position in the
Ionian Islands would be very disagreeable,
and would seriously interiors with our infii-
ence in the affairs of Europe With the Ioni-
4 ans discCnteEted with our rule, and only kept
i down by force, we should not be likely to re-
/ ceive rnuch attention from Austria and Russia
lin any remonstFanccs which we might have
occasion to make on the misg0vernmert Of
] Henetia and Poland.
Fortunately the very strong expression OF
respect for the Royal Family and the institu-
tons of England shown by the Greek people
lin the spontaneous elestian Of Prince Alfred
i TO the throne Of Greece, affords US an excel
lent opportunity Of performing petite act ~
| n graceful manner. We cannot give them
king, for it would involve US IN Responsibilities
that Il would be EnWise for as to undertake
but we have the power Of cenferring what Will
be considered very great favor both By the
Greeks and the Tonians, and we shall never
/ again hrve so favorable an opportunity Of cop-
ierring II Liverpool Mercury.