Επιστολή του προξένου της Βρετανίας στην Ζάκυνθο Waller Rodwell Wright (Ζάκυνθος 26 Φεβρουαρίου 1805) προς τον Right Honorable Lord Mulgrave His Majesty’s Principal Secretary of State For Foreign Affairs με την οποία τον ενημερώνει για την σημασία των Επτανήσων (εμπορική, πολιτική και στρατιωτική) για όποιον τα έχει στην κατοχή του. Επίσης, αναφέρεται στις περιοχές της Αλβανίας/Ηπείρου που μπορούν να αποτελέσουν πηγές τροφοδοσίας προϊόντων για τα βρετανικά σκάφη (naval stores), με φτηνά υλικά, και κυρίως αναδεικνύει την σημασία κατοχής των Επτανήσων για το εμπόριο ξυλείας με τις απένταντι ακτές ή ακομα και της παραγωγής κάνναβις για σκοινιά στην Κέρκυρα λόγω του έφορου εδάφους της. Επίσης, τονίζει την αύξηση της επιρροής των Ρώσων στα Επτάνησα και το γεγονός πως αυτό μπορεί να αποβεί αρνητικά για τα βρετανικά εμπορικά συμφέροντα στην περιοχή αυτήν. Όπως αυτή η παρουσία των Ρώσων στα Επτάνησα μοιάζει να συνιστά μεγαλύτερη απειλή για την ακεραιότητα της Τουρκία από ότι συνιστά μία γαλλική απειλή. Επίσης τονίζει τη σημασία της Ραγούζας και προτείνει να εγκατασταθεί εκει και βρετανός πρόξενος. Επίσης τονίζει την ανάγκη η Βρετανία να προτείνει το πέρασμα των Επτανήσων στις κτήσεις της, αλλιώς να καταλάβει την Πελοπόννησο. Με την κτήση των Επτανήσων θα μπορέσει και να τα προστατεύσει πολιτικά και εμπορικά. Συγκεκριμένα αναφέρει:
The measures lately adopted by the Court of Petersburg with respect to the Settinsular Republic and the direct and absolute superintendence exercised by the Russian Plenipotentiary over every branch of the government, most clearly evince the motive which induced the Emperor Alexander to extend His Protection to this infant state ….
It is further to be observed that the Settinsular Republic being occupied by a Russian force forms a strong frontier to the Turkish dominions in Europe against the attempts of a French armament; but it must also be considered as a position extremely favourable to the views already manifested by the former of those nations.
From these premises I am led to conclude that the danger which threatens the Ottoman possessions in this part of the Mediterranean is more imminent and more to be treated from the policy of Russia than from the arms of the French government. And that against the former more immediate precautions are necessary, for the purpose either of preventing the attempts, or providing a sufficient counterbalance against the effects.
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May I be permitted with all deference to suggest to Your Lordship that if, by reason of our present political relations with Russia and our entire dependence on that country for a supply of naval stores, the British Cabinet should feel it necessary to permit the occupation of the Morea by her forces. The most adequate counterbalance against such an accession of power and territory on the her part would perhaps be a stipulation, that the predominant degree of influence exercised by that government over the Republic of the Seven Islands would be transferred to Great Britain, which from her decided naval superiority, is certainly more competent to guarantee the defence of their territory and the interests of their commerce.
The reasons which have induced me to form this opinion I will take the liberty to lay before Your Lordship as succinctly as the nature of the subject will allow.
The commercial security and personal liberty resulting from the naval superiority and liberal policy of the British government, combined with the probable influx of British capital, would, I conceive, operate as an effectual counterbalance against the superior fertility and extent of the opposite peninsula (Morea). And these neglected Islands would be such protection be enabled to rival the produce and possibly the manufactures of the Morea. While the comparative effects of the different systems of policy, which would most probably be adopted by the two protecting nations, would sufficiently prevent the extension of that Russian influence which must ultimately prove detrimental to the interests of Great Britain.
The further advantages which the later might probably derive from this arrangement, I will take permission briefly to innumerate.
The possession of an excellent naval station in the commodious harbor of Corfu, equally calculated by its situation for the several purposes of watching and annoying the opposite coast on either side, of commanding the Adriatic and Ionian Seas, and of establishing a naval arsenal where vessels of the largest dimensions might be constructed, while its vicinity to those pars of Albania where timber is most plentiful renders its value in the latter respect inestimable. The soil of Corfu is fertile beyond description but at present extremely ill cultivated affording scarcely any other produce than a considerable quantity of oil, which is exported to Venice chiefly in Imperial vessels.
To this island might perhaps be added the ex-Venetian possession of Butritho on the opposite coast, now subject to the Pacha of Yannina, whose disposition are friendly and whose power is nearly independent. The nature of the soil, to a considerable extent around that settlement, is well adopted to produce with proper cultivation a supply of hemps for cordage.
Santa Maura is valuable on account of its situation near the mouth of the Gulph of Arta, whence a considerable supply of timber might be derived; and in this respect the ex-Venetian possession of Preveza might also be desirable.
Paxo is remarkable for little except its noble harbor, which is represented to me as equally secure and easy for vessels.
Cephalonia though it principal port is defective in the last of these particulars must be considered as a possession of much consequence, on account of its great extent and various produce, being, like the Morea, capable of supplying the several articles of West India commerce.
Ithaca possesses some good ports, and is well situated for preventing the enemy’s privateers from annoying our merchant vessels.
Zante, the chief source of our currant trade, is of consequence as affording by means of that article a revenue to government amounting at least to one hundred thousand pounds. And on the same article it is to be observed that we derive nearly fifty thousand pound more from the two islands of Cephalonia and Ithaca.
Cerigo furnishing a small quantity of every sort of produce, barely equal indeed to its own consumption, but excellent in its nature is perhaps of some moment as an advantageous post of observation; for, although, it possesses in itself no safe or commodious harbor, I am informed that such an one may be formed in a small and dependent island towards the north side of it.
Perhaps it will not be unimportant to remark, that the greater number of these islands possess the advantage of producing such wines, as, with liberal and indicious culture, might afford a considerable supply for British consumption.
The revenue of the Republic is fully adequate to their civil, and some part of their military expenditure; so that an additional regiment of 1200 men and a small squadron on this station, would be the only expenses attending the adoption of the measures proposed – which eventually must place the influence and direction of Great Britain a very considerable portion of the Mediterranean Commerce, and perhaps the entire trade of the Adriatic.
The principal disadvantage, which occurs to my observation, is, that, some of the Islands (particularly Zante) depend on the opposite continent for a supply of provisions; but in the fertility of Corfu perhaps it would not be impossible to find a solution for that inconvenience.
The considerations, with which I have presumed to trouble Your Lordship suppose the evil to be so far advanced as to admit no fair possibility of excluding the Russian forces from the Morea; a circumstance however which must be earnestly deprecated, as facilitating in some future combination of political arrangement the dismemberment of this portion of the Ottoman dominions by the leading powers of the continent – but in the uncertainty whether that events may take place or not, I am induced to hope that these observations may in some small degree tend to place in its true light the importance of that station which, Russia at present occupies in the Mediterranean – and that my solicitude to transmit to Your Lordship such imperfect information as I have enabled to collect, respecting a part of Europe hitherto little known, and of no consideration, will meet Your Lordships pardon on accounts of the motive which suggest it.
I have the honour to be
With the greatest respect
My Lord
Your Lordship’s
Most devoted and obedient servant,
Waller Rodwell Wright
H.M. Consul for the Republic of the Seven Islands