HL Deb 16 July 1828 vol 19 cc1741-2

The following Protests were entered on the Journal by lord Holland.: Dissentient;—1. Because—When the national faith is engaged in the prosecution of so important an object as the pacification of a Christian and European country, it is not usual to withhold from parliament for any long space of time, all communication of the issue or progress of his majesty's efforts to attain that object, without some explanation of the circumstances which retard such communication, or render it unseasonable and impolitic. 2. "Because —The governments of Russia and France have explained to their subjects and Europe, not only their views of the obligations contracted, and the objects proposed by the treaty of the 6th of July, 1827, but the degree, extent, and manner in which such views have been affected by the new situation, in which subsequent events, and a change in their relations to one another, or to the Ottoman Porte, have placed them respectively. And it seems to me that a public avowal of a corresponding feeling in his majesty's government is required, if not to maintain the honour of his crown, and to preserve entire the confidence of his allies, at least to promote the just and benevolent design announced in the Protocol and Treaty of rescuing the Greeks from the consequences of a protracted and barbarous warfare, by permanently separating them from the Turks, and securing to them, though tributary to the Ottoman Porte, the nomination of their own rulers, the administration of their internal affairs, and the full enjoyment of freedom of trade and liberty of conscience. 3. "Because—As the neglect on the part of Great Britain of the obligations contracted by the Treaty of the 6th of July 1827, would be equally derogatory to the honour, and injurious to the interests of the Crown, so the appearance of any such change of policy in our councils, would tend to impair the influence of his majesty's name in foreign countries, to loosen the bonds of union and alliance so happily established between Great Britain, France, and Russia, and thereby to cloud the prospect of permanent peace, which the cordial concurrence of those three great powers, in such just and benevolent views as secure the approbation of mankind, hold out to Europe and the world. Dissentient;—1. Because—The late revolution in Portugal, so inauspicious to the maintenance of our ancient relations and close connection with that country, appears to have been begun in the presence, and effected on the removal, of his majesty's military forces. And that just and natural interest which the parliament of Great Britain has ever taken in the safety, independence, and welfare of his majesty's oldest ally, seems to entitle this House to some information respecting the nature of the obligations which subsisted between his majesty and the persons who have assumed the regal authority in that kingdom; as well as of such claims or remonstrances as the emperor of the Brazils, or his daughter the queen Maria da Gloria, may have communicated to his majesty in consequence of the recent usurpation of their title or authority in Portugal. 2. "Because—the rejection of a motion for information respecting Portugal in the present circumstances of that kingdom, implies an indifference in parliament to the state of our relations with foreign powers, and such indifference appears to me at all times as little calculated to avert the necessity of war, as it is obviously ill suited to maintain the national dignity, or to raise the honour of his majesty's Crown during peace. V. HOLLAND.