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

maintained, “have neither endeavoured to secure nor appeared ostensibly to desire
this kind of progress” but explicitly wanted annexation to the Greek State. 153 Lytton
either ignored or was unaware of the Ionians’ numerous requests for running their
own internal affairs throughout the British Protectorate, most notably in 1839
through the Mustoxidi memorial.
Because the Ionian Islands were not a colony and there were no ties of blood
with the mother country, there was no “sympathy with British interests” nor
“attachment to a British nation”; they were “wholly independent” of the British
Parliament. Lytton argued against Gladstone’s proposals to abolish the powers of the
Senate, believing it would endanger the retention of British authority in the Islands.
The Senate was the “tie” and the “means of mutual control” between the protecting
power and the Protectorate. 154 If the Executive was formed by a party that did not
recognise the authority of the Crown, the continuance of government would be
impossible. Lytton wanted the amended constitution to contain provisions that
allowed the British Parliament some legislative sway, similar to the white settler
colonies.
The replacement of the Senate with a second upper chamber partly nominated
and partly elected hardly worked well in British colonies, where the Executive
ultimately had only the appearance of, not actual, authority. Lytton wanted the upper
chamber nominated, but was unsure whether Gladstone had clarified whether the
153 Ibid.
154 Ibid.
308