HC Deb 22 February 1864 vol 173 cc861-2
LORD ROBERT CECIL

I wish, Sir, to ask the hon. Gentleman the Under Secretary for Foreign Affairs a question to which by this time he is well accustomed. I want to know, how the Danish papers are going on? Perhaps, also, he will give us some detailed information as to whether the whole of the copy is now in the hands of the printer; and, if not, whether he intends to confine himself to the employment of the Foreign Office printers, or will extend his operations to some of those larger firms which could turn out the whole correspondence in thirty-six hours with the greatest ease.

MR. LAYARD

Sir, the noble Lord should be aware that the Foreign Office papers are papers of great importance. It is really more than absurd to suggest that these papers should be sent out of the Foreign Office to any other printers. If any document of a character to injure the public service were abstracted surreptitiously, should I not be the first person held responsible by the noble Lord? The Foreign Office have very limited means of printing, but I hope to-night or to-morrow all the copy will be done. There is a large portion of the papers almost completed at present, but still requiring the last revise. I am most willing to give an instalment, if the House declares its opinion that I should do so. My only object is that the House should have the whole case before it, otherwise I do not think it will be fairly treated. The papers, I trust, will all be produced next week.

MR. BERNAL OSBORNE

I wish, Sir, to know, whether I rightly understood the Under Secretary to say the other night, that the Foreign Powers concerned have given their assent to the production of the documents relating to Schleswig-Holstein?

MR. LAYARD

I never stated that we required the permission of any Foreign Power to publish these papers; but, as a matter of courtesy, it is usual, before publishing a document communicated to us by a Foreign Minister, to ask whether he has any objection to its being published.

MR. BERNAL OSBORNE

Has the question been asked?

MR. LAYARD

Of course it has been asked.

MR. BERNAL OSBORNE

And have they assented?

MR. LAYARD

As far as we have gone yet.

MR. BERNAL OSBORNE

What other Powers have you got to go to?

SIB JOHN WALSH

I do not quite understand the answer of the Under Secretary to the question put by my noble Friend the Member for Stamford (Lord Robert Cecil). I understand the hon. Gentleman to say that these papers are undergoing some process of selection. I wish to ask him whether the Government intend to lay all the papers before Parliament, or only a certain selection or extracts from the despatches?

MR. LAYARD

When hon. Gentlemen see the papers I apprehend the greediest will not ask for more.