Mélétopoulo to Francis, June 27, 1872

Mr. Mélétopoulo, secretary-general, &c., to Mr. Francis.

My Dear Sir:* * * * You are perhaps aware of the absurd story published some weeks ago by some American papers about the pretended transportation of a number of convicts from Corfu to the States. I do not know how such a hoax could be credited there, and call forth even preventive measures of the American authorities (as communicated to us in the report of His Majesty’s consul in New York) against the announced landing of Greek outlaws from a fantastic Italian ship. But the fact is, it gave rise to a regular storm of abuse against Greece and its government in the columns of those papers, and provoked the other day an interpellation in our house of representatives to the minister of justice, and criticisms in the local papers. Although His Majesty’s consul at New York hastened to contradict the story, Mr. Bulgaris sent to him, nevertheless, some days ago a cable dispatch to the same purpose, saying:

“Story about transportation of convicts or outlaws to the United States is an absurd and detestable falsehood.”

I hope, after this contradiction, the learning of truth, and the publication of your truthful dispatch on brigandage in Greece, the evil produced by this falsehood is remedied, and that the papers which have reported it must feel some remorse on account of their abuse of Greece.

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Yours, faithfully,