§ LORD DUDLEY STUARTI rise, Sir, to put a question to the noble Lord the Member for the City of London, of which I have given him notice, on a subject of the greatest importance, not only to this country, but to the whole of Europe. The House is well aware that there has been upon the paper for some time a notice of Motion relating to the settlement of the Eastern question, in the name of the hon. Member for Aylesbury (Mr. Layard), which Motion was originally based on one which stood in my name. The hon. Member for Aylesbury has more than once shown a desire to bring this important subject be- 1162 fore the House; but he has waived his intention in consequence of the wishes of Her Majesty's Government, who thought it would be inconvenient to the public service that the question should be debated in Parliament at that particular time. Since then, a considerable period has elapsed, and negotiations have gone on, and are still going on, it is understood, between this country and all the Courts of Europe, with respect to the differences which have arisen between the Court of St. Petersburg and that of Constantinople. Now, I do not wish to ask my noble Friend to fix at present a day when that subject may be discussed; but what I wish to ask him is this—whether he will, before the prorogation of Parliament, which cannot now be very long delayed, set apart a day when the hon. Member for Aylesbury may bring forward his Motion, and when the question may be discussed, or, at least, when the Government will be prepared to lay a statement before the House, explaining to the House, and to the country, the present state of our relations with reference to the different Powers of Europe?
§ LORD JOHN RUSSELLSir, on the last occasion when this important subject was mentioned, the House concurred with Her Majesty's Government in the opinion that it, was not desirable to have a discussion, in the present state of the negotiations, in this House. I am quite ready, however, to give my noble Friend and the House all the information that it is at present in my power to afford. When the Ambassador of His Majesty the Emperor of Russia left Constantinople, it appeared to Her Majesty's Government that it was desirable that there should be a conference with the representatives of all the Great Powers of Europe, in order to endeavour to arrive at terms which might put an amicable termination to the differences between Russia and the Sublime Porte. It was the opinion of the Government of Austria that it was not desirable to have any such conference while the matter remained in a state of diplomatic relations, and that it would not be advisable to have such a conference unless the Emperor of Russia, by invading the Principalities, should, for a time at least, put an end to the status quo of Europe. When that event occurred, the Government of the Emperor of Austria, in conformity with its previous declarations, declared its willingness to hold a conference, and at Vienna summoned the representatives of all the other great Powers of Eu- 1163 rope to attend for the purpose of a conference on the affairs of Russia and Turkey. The Minister of His Majesty the Emperor of Russia did not attend; but the Ministers of England, of France, and of Prussia, attended that conference. Certain terms were there agreed upon, which, in the opinion of the representatives of the four Powers, might be accepted with honour by the two Governments of Turkey and of Russia. Those terms have been assented to by the Governments of England and of France, and, according to our belief, have been transmitted from Vienna to St. Petersburg and Constantinople. In this state of affairs, I think the House will feel fully as strongly, if not more strongly than it did before, that it is quite impossible for me either to say that we ought to have a discussion upon this important subject, or to fix a day for that discussion. I may assure the House, that, as the time for the prorogation of Parliament approaches, Her Majesty's Government will be ready to give every information they can upon this important question.
§ MR. DISRAELII wish to ask the noble Lord whether there is any particular time when Her Majesty's Ministers are induced to believe an answer will be returned from Constantinople and St. Petersburgh?
§ LORD JOHN RUSSELLI would not like to be responsible for naming any particular time. I do not know exactly how many days the Government of His Majesty the Emperor of Russia may take to consider the proposition made to them. I should think that proposition left Vienna probably on Sunday last, and the right hon. Gentleman will be able to calculate, as well as I can do, how long it may be before an answer can be returned from St. Petersburg or Constantinople.
§ MR. DISRAELIThere was a phrase in the noble Lord's answer to the noble Lord the Member for Marylebone, which appeared rather obscure to this side of the House. The noble Lord stated that the proposition agreed upon in Vienna had received the approbation of the Governments of France and England. I inferred at the moment, that, of course, it had received the approbation also of the Governments of Austria and Prussia; but as there seems to be some misapprehension on this side of the House, perhaps the noble Lord will add a word of explanation.
§ LORD JOHN RUSSELLThe proposition was an Austrian proposition, though 1164 it came originally from the Government of France, and I have no doubt the Government of Prussia have intimated their assent to it.
§ Subject dropped.