Constructing Ionian identities: the Ionian Islands in British official ...

Douglas’s view of the “very backward condition of these states” made it
impossible for him to consider press freedom. 77 He argued reading rooms established
in the Islands allowed the circulation of various periodicals and books of every kind
without any restriction or interference from the Ionian government; Douglas saw no
need for any alteration of the Constitution of 1817. Moreover, it was unlikely that
there would be discussions on literary, scientific and nature topics due to the “limited
proportion of Individuals capable of comprehending or taking interest in such
discussions”. Douglas believed the main reason behind Ionian demands for free
press was to criticise British colonial policies and it thus constituted a legal basis for
censorship. Ionians could not be trusted and Douglas warned the Colonial Office he
entertained no doubt they “would find their own resource and emolument… in
administering to vulgar prejudice and passion by becoming the organs of private
scandal and personal abuse”. Freedom of the press would also be disastrous due to
the refugees from the Austrian occupied Italian peninsula and the Ottoman occupied
Greek territories gaining political asylum in the Septinsula. These asylum seekers
would unleash criticism of their governments, thus jeopardising Britain’s
relationship with other nations. Only “mischief”, “misrepresentation”, and
“falsehood” would result if freedom of the press was granted in the Islands, given
such an “easily excited and ignorant community”. 78
76 Douglas to Glenelg, 21 May 1835, CO 136/74; Glenelg to Douglas, 1 July 1835, CO 136/190. For
the activities of the various Missionaries societies in the Septinsula see, Metallinos G., “I Aggliki
Prostasia ke i “Greek Protestants”, [The British Protection and the “Greek Protestants”]”, pp. 189-
218.
77 Douglas to Glenelg, 15 May 1839, CO 136/93.
78 Douglas to Glenelg, 30 September 1836, CO 136/82.
167