§ MR. NEWDEGATEasked the First Lord of the Treasury, Whether Her Majesty's Ministers have any knowledge, officially or otherwise, of any such interview and conversation, touching the condition and affairs of this Country, between His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales and the Pope, as is reported in "The Times" newspaper of the 28th of March last to have taken place in Rome? His only reason for putting the Question was that it was 813 rumoured the King of Italy was absent from Rome at the time of the interview.
MR. GLADSTONEI need, Sir, hardly state to the hon. Member or the House that the Prince of Wales has not visited Rome in an official capacity, and that any interview between His Royal Highness and the Pope would not be an official interview, but one of those visits of compliment, courtesy, and respect which are usually paid by distinguished foreigners when they visit the City of Rome. I did not recollect, when the hon. Gentleman gave Notice of his Question, the purport of the telegram to which he alluded, but I have since referred to it, as well as to the Correspondence at the Foreign Office. We have there no Report which corresponds to that given in the telegram; but we have a Report from Mr. Jervoise, who mentions this interview. He states that the Pope was very kind and courteous, and particular in making inquiries after the health of Her Majesty. He does not, however, report anything of a more special character, either touching matters of policy or in any manner affecting the relations of this country, or the religious character of the people of this country. I should add that Mr. Jervoise was actually present at the interview between the Pope and the Prince of Wales.