HC Deb 16 February 1883 vol 276 c171
MR. O'DONNELL

asked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Whether the British Representative at the Danubian Conference was instructed to support the claim of Roumania to vote upon all questions relating to the navigation and police of the Danube, submitted to the Conference?

LORD EDMOND FITZMAURICE

In accordance with the usual custom, it was agreed by the Plenipotentiaries of the Powers present at the second Conference on the Danube Question that strict secrecy should be preserved with regard to their proceedings. I am, therefore, unable at present to answer the hon. Member's Question; but all information on the subject will in due course be laid before Parliament.

MR. O'DONNELL

said, the right hon. Gentleman had answered a Question he did not ask. He did not ask anything about the proceedings at the Danubian Conference, but about the instructions given outside to the British Representative.

LORD EDMOND FITZMAURICE

I am sorry that I cannot answer that Question consistently with the secrecy of the proceedings of the Conference.

MR. O'DONNELL

On Monday I shall ask, Whether Her Majesty's Government have consented to abandon the claims of the liberated Provinces of Turkey to the policy of Austria and Russia, in consideration of the toleration extended by those two Powers to the policy of Her Majesty's Government in Egypt?