114 EMPLOYMENT OF THE PLEBISCITE [412 



present at the polls,"'® is apparently fully justified. Even 

 the Swedish Government at the time recognized and appre- 

 ciated the almost entire absence of an opposing minority. 

 In the Riksdag's address to the King it was admitted that 

 this condition, a Norwegian referendum, was a reality, and 

 a tremendous majority of votes, in fact almost all, had been 

 given for dissolution. In answer to those European papers 

 which hinted at Swedish disappointments as the result of 

 the Norwegian plebiscite, the Riksdag stated in effect, as 

 summarized by Eden, that "in itself this Norwegian una- 

 nimity is a relief to us," and that " if the Union is to be 

 dissolved, nothing would have made a settlement more dif- 

 ficult than a strong Norwegian minority against such a 

 solution."'® 



A few minor cases of territorial cession on the principle 

 of national self-determination expressed by direct or indi- 

 rect vote, require mention for the sake of record rather than 

 on account of their importance. 



The national spirit which was active in the unification of 

 Italy found its echo in Greece. The year 1854 saw the 

 Greeks rise once more in the attempt to secure for Greece, 

 if possible, the lands and islets which once had belonged to 

 her. This new spirit reacted upon the peoples of the Ionian 

 Islands, then under the protectorate of England.®" " When 

 the Greek Kingdom became a recognized state of Europe, 

 the wish to be politically united with men of their own race 

 took root among the people of the Ionian Islands."**^ In 

 addresses and public meetings the peoples gave expression 

 to their wishes. Finally Sir John Young, the English High 

 Commissioner, suggested to the Home Government that the 

 Islands be ceded to Greece. Gladstone went in person to 

 investigate the sentiment of the population and was over- 

 whelmed with petitions.®" On June 27, 1859, ^^^ Ionian 



^8 Gjerset, p. 582. 

 ''^ Eden, pp. 23-24. 

 •" Freudenthal, pp. 11-12. 



*' Quoted by Freudenthal, p. 12, from Russcl's Circular Note of 

 June 10, 1863. 

 "2 Freudenthal, p. 12. 



