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

speeches so they could suggest alterations to make the Treaty seem more palatable to
the Ionians. 142 The Treaty of London was signed in July 1863 by the co-signatories of
the Treaty of Paris and Greece. In October 1863, the Assembly was recalled by
Storks, voted unanimously for union with Greece and then Storks prorogued the
Assembly again, at Russell's request, so the European Powers could finalise the
cession. 143 On 29 March 1864 William of Denmark accepted the Greek throne as
King George I.
Storks believed the union was received in the Islands with “mixed feelings of
satisfaction and apprehension”. 144 He believed there were many Ionians who did not
support or want union with Greece and who were concerned about their safety if the
British left the Islands. He claimed women, in particular, were “universally opposed
to the cessation of British protection”. 145 Only the youths, “unrestrained by paternal
authority, and ardent in their love for change”, were enthusiastic for the union. He
attributed it to their hope the new state would employ them, otherwise he anticipated
trouble. Storks, throughout his tenure, believed he would be able to find a way to
govern the Islands. For him, the union meant Ionians would trade the “solid
142 Newcastle to Russell, 13 August 1863, Russell Papers, PRO 30/22/26; Russell to Newcastle, 15
August 1863, Russell Papers, PRO 30/22/31.
143 Russell to Newcastle, 15 August 1863, Russell Papers, PRO 30/22/31.
144 Storks to Newcastle, 7 April 1863, CO 136/181. Although Storks believed many Ionians had mixed
feelings about union, Greek historiography contends union was received with excitement and
exuberance, with the exception of a few Retrograde supporters of the Protectorate. See Hiotis P., I
Istoria tou Ioniou Kratous, [History of the Ionian State], pp. 387-588.
145 Storks to Newcastle, 7 May 1863, CO 136/181; As Thomas Gallant argued “the British-devised
legal system opened a realm of public space that women quickly incorporated in unexpected ways
into their daily social discourse”, in Gallant T. W., Experiencing Dominion, Culture, Identity, and
Power, p. 151.
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