[Footnote H: The paper from which we have quoted the above passage, is printed as an annex to the protocol appointing King Otho, in the Parliamentary papers.]
We believe that there now remains only one assertion which we have ventured to make, which we have not yet proved. We repeat it, and shall proceed to state our proofs. We say that Greece, if equitably treated, is not bankrupt, but on the contrary she possesses resources amply sufficient to discharge all just claims on her revenues, to maintain order in the country, and to defend her institutions. We shall draw our proof from the budget of King Otho for the present year, as this statement was laid before the allied powers to excite their compassion, and show them the absolute impossibility of King Otho paying his debts.
The revenues of Greece are stated at 14,407,795 drachmas: and we may here remark, that last year, when his Hellenic majesty expected to persuade the allies to desist from pressing their claims, he stated the revenues of his
kingdom at … 17,834,000 The national expenses only amount to … 11,735,546
Under the following heads:—
Drachmas.
Foreign Affairs, 394,712
Justice, 904,902
Interior, 1,073,182
Religion and Education, 651,658
War Department, 5,255,804
Navy, 1,404,465
Finances, 486,600
Expenses of managing the Revenue, which, in
all preceding years, has been a part of the
expenses of the Finance Department, 1,564,222
Another section of Finance Department, 60,000
—————
Making a total of 11,735,546
The expenses of the Greek government which have been imposed on the country by the protecting powers, but never yet approved of by the Greek nation, are as follows:—
Drachmas.
Interest and sinking fund of debt due to the three
protecting powers, debt to Bavaria, and pensions, 4,703,232
Civil list of King Otho, 1,209,064
—————
5,912,296
It seems that the allies have made a very liberal allowance to King Otho. The monarch and his council of state cost more than the whole civil administration of the country, and almost as much as the Greek navy.
We humbly conceive that a court of equity would strike out the Bavarian loan as illegally contracted, and forming a private debt between the two monarchs of Bavaria and Greece—that it would diminish the claim of the protecting powers, by expunging all those sums which have been spent among themselves or on strangers, with their consent—that it would reduce the civil list of the king and the council of state to 500,000 drachmas—and that it would order the immediate convocation of a national assembly, in order to take measures for improving the revenues of the country.