No. 248.
Mr. Read to Mr. Evarts .

No. 416.]

Sir: Great anxiety prevailed here until a few days ago concerning the fate of Greece at the Berlin congress. Mr. Delyanni set before the congress the claims of Greece, saying in substance that the extension of the territory of Greece was—

I.
An act of justice, which was not performed originally upon the regulation of the boundaries when the kingdom was established, but which she now had a right to expect to obtain.
II.
It was an act entirely in accord with the purpose for which the congress had assembled, viz, the pacification of the East. For it would be impossible to render peace durable without giving to Greece the populations which inhabit Thessaly and Epirus, and the still struggling Crete. The minister of foreign affairs moreover urged that it is in the interest of Turkey to have these provinces annexed to Greece, as she incurs continued struggles and expenses in keeping them under her power. He said that Greece will also suffer great loss of money and tranquillity as long as these provinces remain under Turkish rule; because distinguished and wealthy people, originally from these provinces, now reside in Greece, and every time that a stir is made in their fatherland they sustain the movement by money and energy. Greece cannot prevent these actions, and so troubles arise in the affairs, and difficulties ensue between Greece and the Porte. He concluded by demanding the annexation of Epirus, Thessaly, and Crete to Greece.

The congress, having charged Mr. Waddington to examine the Greek claims and make a report thereon, decided, after hearing the French representative, to request Turkey to allow the rectification of the Greek frontier, and it recommended that such rectification should take the course of the Peneus River, in Thessaly, and the Kalama River, in Epirus. By [Page 378] this arrangement the greater part of Thessaly and considerable part of Epirus will be annexed to the Greek territory.

There is another more recent item of news published in the Ethnicon Pneuma, the semi-official organ of the prime minister of Greece, to the effect that a committee has been formed of Turks and Greeks to proceed immediately to the work of settling the boundaries. The above-mentioned paper last night published also the following:

According to later intelligence the question of the concession to Greece of the already known territory of Thessaly and Epirus is definitively solved. It is also expected that the congress, before it declares its work ended, will decide as to Crete; but up to this moment we have no later information on this subject. There are, however, good reasons to entertain hopes touching the heroic and great martyr Crete.

According to a statement in the Hora, the territory to be annexed to Greece adds a population of 600,000, and a revenue of 17,000,000 of drachmas; that is to say, it will increase the population by one-third and the revenue by one-half.

This solution seems to satisfy the present expectations of the Greeks, although there will be, of course, a great deal of uneasiness until the decision of the congress is realized. The Department is respectfully requested to observe that the views which I have for a long time expressed in my dispatches are being fulfilled.

I have, &c.,

JOHN MEREDITH READ.