§ Earl Greyinformed their Lordships, that he had now in his hands the two Papers relative to the Belgic Negotiations, which, as he had stated the other night, he thought might now be presented to their Lordships. These papers were the Protocol agreed to by the four Powers relative to a new arrangement in regard to the fortresses on the Belgic frontiers; and the letter addressed to Prince Talleyrand, as representative of the French Government, communicating the purport of that Protocol. It was not his intention to found any motion on those Papers, and he, therefore, had to move, merely in the usual course, that they lie on the Table.
The Marquis of Londonderry begged leave to ask the noble Earl, whether these were all the papers which he meant at 462 present to lay on the Table, on the subject of these negotiations? It appeared from partial publications of documents in those sources of information to which all had access—he meant the newspapers—that there were other most important papers in existence relative to the late negotiations for the settlement, of Belgium—papers which developed the most extraordinary opinions put forth and acted on by his Majesty's present Ministers, and which, since the recent declaration of the king of Holland, had become of peculiar importance. It was highly expedient that their Lordships should, as speedily as possible, have all these documents before them, that they might be enabled to form a correct judgment upon them without delay. He asked whether our old and most faithful ally had not been sacrificed by Ministers in the recent proceedings relative to Belgium? His own opinion was, that it would appear that the King of Holland had been sacrificed—had been basely and treacherously treated by his Majesty's present Ministers. He had been taunted with being disorderly when, on a former occasion, he had asked his Majesty's Ministers whether the King of Holland had been admitted as a party to the negotiations on the subject of Belgium; but who could say now, after seeing the recent declaration of the king of Holland, relative to the eighteen Articles which had been agreed upon at the Conferences, that he had been disorderly in asking that question? It was now clear, that he was not out of order. He had asked whether the king of Holland had been apprised of these eighteen Articles, and had acceded to them, before the departure of Prince Leopold for Belgium? He had wished to know whether this Protocol had been communicated to the king of Holland by the Baron Wessenberg, on occasion of his most extraordinary mission to that Power. He had wished to know whether the king of Holland was apprised of the changes that were to be made with respect to the fortresses, the erection and maintenance of which had been solemnly settled by the Treaties of 1814–15? He called upon the noble Earl, then, to state to their Lordships whether the Protocol of the 17th of April, relative to the fortresses, had been communicated to Holland—had it been communicated to the Belgic Commissioners, or had it ever been communicated to those whom it most concerned, 463 until the information had been forced from, his Majesty's Ministers by the disclosure made in the Speech of the King of the French, that the fortresses which had been constructed to menace France, were to be demolished? His Majesty's Ministers had communicated the Protocol to the king of the French, who had nothing to do with the matter, and yet he was the first to promulgate to France and to Europe, as a great and mighty feat, accomplished by the French government, that these fortresses were to be demolished, and the great object contemplated in erecting them, defeated at one blow. He hoped, that it was not intended now to transfer to France that power in the Tagus and the Scheldt, that influence with Portugal and Holland, which had formerly belonged to the British Government. He hoped, it was not now intended to transfer our ancient alliance with these Powers to France, with its present impotent and unstable government, which could not reasonably be expected to last long. He thought his Majesty's Ministers ought to be called upon speedily to produce the whole of the papers relative to these negotiations, and that a time should be fixed for the discussion of the subject, especially after the publication of the manifesto of our most honourable, honest, faithful and ancient ally, the king of Holland, who complained of breaches of faith, and of a want of common honesty in others. He wished to know, whether the Ministers proposed to produce more of these papers, and the day when they intended to bring the whole subject under discussion; and he repeated, that he wished particularly to know, whether the Protocol of April 17th, had been communicated to the king of Holland, on occasion of the mission of the Baron Wessenberg to his Majesty?
§ Earl GreyOf all the questions of the noble Marquis, the only one which I feel myself at liberty to answer, is the first. The noble Marquis has asked me whether it is my intention immediately to lay any more papers, relative to the Belgic negotiations, on the Table? My answer is, that I know of no commands from his Majesty to lay any more papers on that subject on the Table at present; and I will say nothing more on the matter until the proper time comes, unless the noble Marquis, or some other of your Lordships, should think proper to make a motion on the subject.
The Marquis of LondonderryThe noble Earl seems to think it very dignified and statesmanlike, thus coolly to decline answering my questions. I have put questions home to him on points of the highest importance, and I call upon him to answer them if he can.