Russia and the Greek Dispute.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume VI, Issue 523, 7 August 1850, Page 3

Russia and the Greek Dispute.

A translation of the main points of the despatch from Count Nesselrode to Baron Branow on the affairs of Greece has been published. It states that Russia was well aware that England had claims, and that in 1847, during the administration of Coletti, she was on the point of measures for their enforcement, but since that period she heard no more of them. Had Russia received any intimation on the subject, she would have counselled Greece to attend to the claims ; and if Greece then refused to satisfy them, England might have taken what measure she thought suitable. Russia and France have equally lent Greece funds, and they condemn measures which are likely to incapacitate her from honoring her pecuniary engagements. The money demands appear exaggerated ; and they claim a right to know the quarrel. The claim of the two small islands is a territorial question. On it Russia and France are justified in demanding, in virtue of what title Englaud u presumes to change a status quo that has lasted for eighteen years, to ttke upon herself to reconstruct the map of Greece, and to appropriate any portion, how small soever, of her territory. This is a question that must be examined into by the three powers." * * * "Surely neither of those three powers can pretend, nor does it become either of them, to undo its own collective work, to threaten the independence of Greece, to encroach on its integrity, to endanger the existence of that dynasty by humbling it in the eyes of the world, by disturbing the tranquillity of the country, or exposing it to the attacks of factions encouraged as they may be by the presence of the English fleet, and perhaps to the horrors of civil war." In a subsequent despatch, dated the 8-20 th February, Count Nesselrode acknowledges the receipt of the intelligence that Lord Palmerston had relaxed (hose extreme measures which he bad adopted against the Hellenic government and accepted the mediation of France. Count Nesselrode will not insist on the want of courtesy of which be has complained, nor ask to enter into a mediation already commenced, and which may already have borne (ruits profitable to Greece. Nevertheless, with regard to the cession of the Greek islands — a question of territory connected with the delimitation established by a treaty between the three cabinets, it will be impossible for Russia, as a signer of that act, to admit that this question should be treate d by England and France to the exclusion of

Russia. She therefore reserves her right in this respect. — Spectator, March 16.