HC Deb 28 July 1863 vol 172 cc1498-9
MR. HENNESSY

said, that two suggestions had been made to the Government in reference to the Polish question. One was by a noble Earl in another place that they should withdraw their Ambassador from St. Petersburg, and the other was the suggestion by another noble Earl that they should withdraw the sanction which England had given to the Russian dominion in Poland. He therefore wished to know, Whether Her Majesty's Government are considering the propriety of adopting the latter course?

VISCOUNT PALMERSTON

I have no doubt, Sir, that such a proposal has been made, and has been duly considered. Still it has always appeared to me, that to tell Russia that the stipulations of the Treaty of Vienna with regard to Poland are no longer of any value, would be to tell her that she might do whatever she pleased with respect to Poland, and that no other Power would have any more right to remonstrate with her on account of her treatment of that country, than any one Power would have any right to make representations to another in regard to its treatment of its own unqualified subjects. It seems to me, therefore, that it would be injurious to the interests of Poland to adopt the suggestion of the hon. Member.