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

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egan <strong>in</strong> November 1853 follow<strong>in</strong>g Russia’s attempts to impose a Christian<br />

Protectorate on <strong>the</strong> Sultan’s Christian subjects. Brita<strong>in</strong> and France believed <strong>the</strong>ir<br />

<strong>in</strong>terests <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> Eastern Mediterranean were at stake. Brita<strong>in</strong> was concerned about<br />

communications with India should <strong>the</strong> Russians capture <strong>the</strong> Dardanelles and <strong>the</strong><br />

Ottoman Empire collapse. Their concerns led Brita<strong>in</strong> and France to declare war on<br />

Russia <strong>in</strong> March 1854. 8 <strong>British</strong> policy, however, was <strong>in</strong> complete opposition to<br />

<strong>Ionian</strong> sympathies, many of whom supported Greek <strong>in</strong>surgent activities <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />

Ottoman territories with men and equipment. 9 In <strong>the</strong> <strong>Ionian</strong> Assembly, <strong>the</strong> Risospasti<br />

members of <strong>the</strong> House (<strong>the</strong> same 10 th Assembly from Ward’s era) attacked Brita<strong>in</strong> as<br />

<strong>the</strong> defender of <strong>the</strong> Ottoman, reject<strong>in</strong>g all Ward’s <strong>in</strong>terim legislation. 10 Colonial<br />

<strong>official</strong>s hoped Young’s appo<strong>in</strong>tment would dissipate <strong>the</strong> troubles associated with<br />

Ward’s deal<strong>in</strong>gs with <strong>the</strong> <strong>Ionian</strong> Parliament and lead to a new consensus between<br />

Brita<strong>in</strong> and <strong>the</strong> Protectorate. This would not materialise as <strong>the</strong> Assembly were<br />

immediately hostile to any of Young's proposals. This was apparent <strong>in</strong> Young's first<br />

deal<strong>in</strong>gs with <strong>the</strong> Assembly and <strong>the</strong> debate over <strong>the</strong> expenses of <strong>the</strong> public<br />

functionaries and High Police Powers. 11<br />

Young, like Ward, did not trust <strong>the</strong> Assembly to control <strong>the</strong> government<br />

f<strong>in</strong>ances. In a test of <strong>the</strong>ir powers aga<strong>in</strong>st <strong>the</strong> new governor, <strong>Ionian</strong> MPs deliberately<br />

delayed vot<strong>in</strong>g for <strong>the</strong> extraord<strong>in</strong>ary expenses of <strong>the</strong> <strong>Ionian</strong> State to exclude Young<br />

8 Troubetzkoy A S., A Brief History of <strong>the</strong> Crimean War: <strong>the</strong> causes and consequences of a medieval<br />

conflict fought <strong>in</strong> a modern age, (London, 2006); Conacher J., Brita<strong>in</strong> and <strong>the</strong> Crimea, 1855-56:<br />

Problems of War and Peace, (New York, 1987).<br />

9 Tumelty J. J., “The <strong>Ionian</strong> <strong>Islands</strong> under <strong>British</strong> Adm<strong>in</strong>istration”, p. 265.<br />

10 Young to Russell 14 July 1855, CO 136/156; Young to Molesworth, 5 September 1855, CO<br />

136/156; Young to Labouchere 5 February 1856, CO 136/158.<br />

11 Young to Russell 12 May 1855, CO 136/156.<br />

269

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