§ MR. WHALLEYasked the First Lord of the Treasury, with reference to a statement in the Public Journals that Her Majesty convoyed to the Pope congratulations on the event of his Jubilee, Whether he feels at liberty to inform the House of the terms of such communication?
MR. GLADSTONESir, on the 13th of June an Instruction was addressed to Mr. Jervis, at Rome, to the effect that he was to convey to the Pope, on behalf of Her Majesty, in the usual manner, Her Majesty's congratulations on the anniversary of his accession. I hardly need add that in this communication there is nothing of a political character, and that so far as regards the personal position and dignity of the Pope, who was a Sovereign, but who has been dispossessed of his dominions, which now constitute part of the Kingdom of Italy, it was the feeling of the Government, and I think it will be the feeling of the House, that the duty of expressing personal respect and regard should not only not be omitted, but should be even more sedulously observed than before.
§ MR. NEWDEGATEWas the communication made under the powers of the Diplomatic Relations Act of 1848?
MR. GLADSTONEI am not able to say whether that was so, or whether it might not be perfectly possible to make a communication of this kind without reference to the Diplomatic Relations Act. George IV. contrived to present a portrait of himself to Pope Pius VII. before the Diplomatic Relations Act existed. If it was possible in the past it might be possible again, irrespective of the statute, to convey such a very simple message as I have stated to the House.