AMENDMENTS



  The Treaty of Paris of 17th November, 1815, specified that the
authority of the Ionian Government, which was placed under British
protection, should extend to the large islands "with their dependencies
as enumerated in the Treaty of 21st March, 1800, concluded between
Russia and Turkey."
  In addition to the international instruments here mentioned, the
two Constitutional Charters of the Government of the Seven Ionian
Islands, dated respectively 30th November 1883, and 28th August,
1817, explicity state that "the Government of the Seven Islands"
is
comprised of all islands, large or small, inhabited or uninhabited, until
recently belonging to the Venetian Government and facing the coast of
the Peloponnesus and Albania . . ."
  II. It follows from this explanation that the Island of Saseno, being
geographically a part of the Ionian Islands, shared the same fate with
them during the last two centuries. When, under the terms of the
Treaty which was signed in London on 24th March, 1864, Great Britain
ceded the Ionian Islands to Greece, the Island of Saseno passed to
Greek sovereignty. It remained in this State until 1914.
  In order to prevent any misunderstandings as to its intentions, the
Greek Government refrained during the whole of this period from
sending even an ordinary garrison to this island. Not until 1914, i.e.
after the occupation of the island by the Italians, was it transformed
into a real fortress.
  III. On 13th February 1914, in a note addressed to the Greek
Government, the Great Powers made the award of the islands of the
Aegean to Greece dependent on the withdrawal of Greek troops from
any territory situated outside the line recommended by the Protocol
of Florence. Since this line was intended to define the frontier of
Albania, the Island of Saseno was included in the area which was to
be evacuated.
  The Greek Government felt obliged to comply with this proposal
and ordered the Greek troops to evacuate Northern Epirus and the
Island of Saseno which, since the Balkan Wars, was occupied by a
detachment of Greek Marines.
  The initiative in this manoeuvre of coercion belonged to Italy which
aimed at paving the way for her penetration of the Balkans via
Albania. She was later supported by Austro-Hungary which was
hatching similar plans of conquest. By forcing Greece out of terri-
tories which formed key positions to the Balkans and the Eastern
Mediterranean, the democratic Powers played into the hands of
Italian and Austro-Hungarian imperialism.
  A grave injustice and, at the same time, an even graver error was
thus committed.
     219-115-70--45



697