MR. GLADSTONESir, it may be for the convenience of the House that I should read aloud the Resolutions I intend to propose on going into Committee of Supply on Friday next. There are five of them in all, and I proceed by way of Resolution in order to give Her Majesty's Government and private Members the greatest opportunity and facilities for dealing with the various points of the case, either separately or conjointly, as they may please. The Resolutions are as follow:—
The fifth Resolution simply combines the others in the form of an Andress, and is as follows:—
- “1. That this House finds just cause of dissatisfaction and complaint in the conduct of the Ottoman Porte with regard to the Despatch written by the Earl of Derby on the 21st day of September, 1876, and relating to the massacres in Bulgaria.
- “2. That, until such conduct shall have been essentially changed, and guarantees on behalf of the subject populations other than the promises or ostensible measures of the Porte shall have been provided, that Government will be deemed by this House to have lost all claim to receive either the material or the moral support of the British Crown."
- “3. That, in the midst of the complications which exist and the war which has actually begun, this House earnestly desires the influence of the British Crown in the Counsels of Europe to be employed with a view to the early and effectual development of local liberty and practical self-government in the disturbed Provinces of Turkey, by putting an end to the oppression which they now suffer, without the imposition upon them of any other Foreign Dominion.
- "4. That, bearing in mind the wise and honourable policy of this Country in the Protocol of April 1826, and the Treaty of July 1827, with
102 respect to Greece, this House furthermore earnestly desires that the influence of the British Crown may be addressed to promoting the concert of the European Powers in exacting from the Ottoman Porte, by their united authority, such changes in the Government of Turkey as they may deem to be necessary for the purposes of humanity and justice, for effectual defence against intrigue, and for the peace of the world." “5. That an humble Address, setting forth the prayer of this House according to the tenour of the foregoing Resolutions, be prepared and presented to Her Majesty.I may, perhaps, be permitted by the indulgence of the House to say one word in regard to the time and manner of bringing forward the Motion, as it may conduce to greater convenience. As I make this Motion on my own responsibility, and not as the organ of any Party or section of a Party in this House, I have adopted the means open to me, which reduce themselves, in fact, to placing the Notice on the Paper as an Amendment on going into Committee of Supply. At the same time, if I may presume to say so, I feel that it is desirable that every possible facility should be afforded for discussion and for the proposal of Amendments on a Motion of this character; and if through the kindness of hon. Members or of this House or of Her Majesty's Government I am able to propose it on Friday as a substantive Resolution, and not as an. Amendment on going into Committee of Supply, or on some later day than Friday—although I hope an early day—I shall gladly and thankfully accept such an arrangement.
§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUERPerhaps, Sir, I may be allowed to say, with reference to the concluding observations of the right hon. Gentleman, that Her Majesty's Government will be perfectly prepared to place Monday at his disposal.
MR. GLADSTONEIt would be with an ill grace if I hesitated for a moment to accept that arrangement, and I accept it, as I said before, with thankfulness.
§ SIR JOHN LUBBOCKI beg to give Notice that I shall move the Previous Question when the right hon. Gentleman's Resolutions are put from the Chair.