WI Britain doesnt give Eptanisa to Greece in 1864?

In 1864 because of the accession of new King of Greece George I Britain decided to give Eptanisa (seven islands west of Greece) to Greece as a gift to the new Monarch...

WI Britain opted to retain these islands as a Crown colony? How would History be changed with a British base between Italy and Greece (I mean WWI, WWII etc.)
 
In 1864 because of the accession of new King of Greece George I Britain decided to give Eptanisa (seven islands west of Greece) to Greece as a gift to the new Monarch...

WI Britain opted to retain these islands as a Crown colony? How would History be changed with a British base between Italy and Greece (I mean WWI, WWII etc.)

Wasn't the main reason Britain gave them to Greece because the colony was practically haemorrhaging money?

Maybe keeping one island wouldn't be too bad (say, Corfu), but all of them...
 
Wasn't the main reason Britain gave them to Greece because the colony was practically haemorrhaging money?

Maybe keeping one island wouldn't be too bad (say, Corfu), but all of them...

Well they could turn them to naval bases so they could control entrance to Eastern mediterranean from there along with Malta... Or trade posts or something...
 
Well they could turn them to naval bases so they could control entrance to Eastern mediterranean from there along with Malta... Or trade posts or something...

I know nothing important on the Ionian islands but the British held them for just under half a century. If they could have been turn into (more) of a base for the British, why didn't it happen OTL?
 
Oh, no - not another HMS Heligoland!!!

I just recovered from doing the last one...

...I got this THING about ISLANDS, see?:D

I await your efforts with baited hook, Don Giorgio (catches more than bated breath - even if I'm having a kipper for my tes).
 
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