HL Deb 24 February 1840 vol 52 cc507-11
The Marquess of Londonderry

, seeing the noble Viscount in his place, was desirous to ask him a question respecting what was called the temporary occupation by the French of King's Islet, near Minorca, in Port Mahon. When on a former occasion an inquiry was made relative to this point, the noble Viscount said, he was quite assured that the papers which would be laid before their Lordships would be found to give a perfectly satisfactory explanation. Now, he must declare that those papers were not at all satisfactory to him, and to show why they were not, he begged leave to refer to the despatch (No. 4.) from Sir George Villiers to Viscount Palmerston, dated November 4, 1837. It was there slated:— A report of the Committee of state on the occupation of the King's Islet, in Port Mahon, by the French has been read, and was approved without discussion. The proposition on which the report was founded was to the effect, that the measure adopted by the Government with respect to this island should be suspended; and the committee declare, that they have observed with the greatest regret the steps that have been taken by the Government on the subject. It appears, the Committee state, that the French have for some time rented the island from the local authorities as a depôt for coal, and as it is now likely to be more necessary to them than ever, on account of their occupation of a portion of the coast of Africa, the French Ambassador at this court received instructions from his Government to apply to the government of her Catholic majesty for the use of the buildings on the island for a fixed period. The Government consulted the authorities of the island, and although their report was unanimously against acceding to the request, it was granted by the Government, on account of its being politically convenient not to deny this favour to an ally, when on the other hand, the inconveniences attending the refusal of it were taken into consideration. The French government were therefore permitted to hold the premises in question for the term of two years, renew- able at pleasure, for the annual rent of 300 reals (3l.). After having heard the Minister of State, and although extremely desirous of manifesting a sincere wish to maintain the most friendly relations with France, the Committee nevertheless advised the Chamber to offer to the French government the best buildings on the island of Minorca itself, which may be adapted for the objects in view, instead of the spot called King's Islet, by which proceeding, they state, the wants of the French vessels of war will be consulted, and the national anxiety on the subject tranquilized. Now there was in his opinion, a great deal of difference between occupying houses and barns situated on the island of Minorca, and occupying King's Islet, in the centre of Port Mahon. Looking to the last letter dated January 16, 1840, from Mr. Gaynor, the British Vice-Consul at Port Mahon, on this subject, he found that it merely stated, that— Since the departure of Consul Lieutenant Colonel C. L. Fitzgerald, nothing has occurred worthy of remark, except the renewal of the lease, by the Spanish to the French government, for two years of the King's, or Hospital Island, situate in the centre of this port, with its hospital and its appurtenances, at a monthly rent of 16 dollars, with the reserve, in case Spain should not have occasion for it. It was to be observed that not a single reason had been given why the buildings and barns on the island of Minorca were not appropriated instead of this islet. He believed that any person who was acquainted with the position of the latter, would state, that if the French were to have possession of it for two years, unless they were absolutely prohibited from erecting fortifications, they would make it so formidable a post, that, if we ever returned (as was by no means impossible) to a war with France, (in which case, he had no doubt that the waters of the Mediterranean would be the scene of conflict), it would be found to operate injuriously to our interests in that quarter. He could not, therefore, avoid looking with jealousy at their occupation of an island in the centre of Port Mahon. He wished consequently, to know whether any communication had taken place explaining why buildings and outhouses on the island of Minorca were not given up to the French, instead of a separate island? The subject was very important, and on some future day he would propose a motion with reference to it.

The Earl of Clarendon

could not see what right the British Government had to ask of the Spanish Government its reasons for not having adopted a resolution of a committee of the Cortes. That, amongst other matters, had been taken up by the opposition in the Cortes, and had been used to excite an ill-feeling against the Government. A Committee was appointed, and had made the report which had been alluded to. But the lease having been granted long before, the Government saw no reason to rescind it. The warehouse and hospital so leased were first in possession of the United States, and afterwards, in a strange manner, handed over to France, who wished to make use of it as a dépôt for coal, and there was no objection to granting it to them for that purpose, on the same terms as those on which it had been held by the American Government. There was, moreover, a clause in the first lease, which stipulated that the French should not exceed the authority exercised by the previous occupiers of the island; and in the lease now granted to them for two years there was a similar stipulation; besides which, they were only to hold the station in the event of the Spanish Government not wanting it for their own use. Inquiry had been made of the French Government as to what were their intentions respecting the place; and the answer was, that they merely wished to use it as a coal dépôt; and it appeared to him that there could be no objecton to their using it for that purpose.

The Earl of Aberdeen

said, that the matter was one of considerable importance. It was not the first time the French had endeavoured to establish a footing in the island. They had requested permission to place a dépôt there ten years ago, but the Spanish Government then refused its permission to allow the French to form any such establishment. The noble Earl had said, that the matter had excited a great deal of alarm and of interest in Spain. Those feelings, in his opinion, were very natural. The noble Earl had also stated, that the Opposition in the Cortes had taken up the question. Surely, it was very natural that they should, and he was afraid that the Opposition in their Lordships' House would also find it necessary to take it up, in order to show that it was a point which might lead to very serious consequences. The Cortes committee had recommended that if the French formed an establishment of the kind, it should be on the main land, where they would be more under the control of the Spanish Government, which might prevent them from erecting such works as at a future period might become formidable. The noble Earl, however, said, that it was a temporary agreement, and he asked, what right had we to interfere with the distribution of any portion of the Spanish territories? He would answer, that we claimed that right fur the best of all possible reasons—for the security of our position in the Mediterranean. Our interest there rendered it imperative on us to interfere. He conceived that they had a right to complain, not that the French Government had placed themselves in this situation, but that the Spanish Government had given to France this facility for forming an establishment which might seriously affect the interests of this country. The noble Earl had not told them that by the terms of the lease the French were prohibited from strengthening themselves on the island, which was a very important matter. If it could be shown that the French meant only to have a dépôt for coal, or an hospital for the sick on the island (it being strictly provided that they should not convert it into a post of strength), the matter would then assume a different aspect. But, unless the noble Earl declared that they were positively prevented from erecting any buildings that partook of the character of barracks, or had a hostile appearance—unless he showed that it was impossible for them to construct any buildings on that island which might be available to them in military operations, in that case the objection to the continuance of the French there became exceedingly strong. Considering all that had taken place in that part of the world, no one could be surprised that there should be some degree of anxiety felt in this country on the subject.

Lord Ellenborough

wished to know if the French had erected any building in the island besides dépôts and hospitals? Whether any edifice had been raised there that was not strictly in accordance with the terms of the lease?

The Earl of Clarendon

was not aware that the French had erected any other. He believed that the Spanish Government would not allow the erection of any building whatsoever of a military cha- racter. The noble Earl had stated that the Spanish Government had refused to lease the island to France. [The Earl of Aberdeen.—In 1830.] He believed, that about 1830 the American Government had handed the island over to France; and very shortly after the taking of Algiers the French turned it into a coal dépôt. They had now held it for several years, but only as a coal dépôt. He believed that there were none but invalids there: and there had never been more than one sloop of war at any time near the island, He had not the least apprehension of the French forming a military establishment on the island. He had made inquiries on these points; and he found, that since the French had occupied it no individuals appeared there, except a few to receive coals; and, as he had said before, there had been but one French sloop of war on the station.

Viscount Melbourne

said, he did not know they could prevent the French from establishing themselves on the island, with the concurrence of the Spanish Government. If the French had endeavoured to settle themselves in the island of Minorca, he thought the jealousy of the House and of the country might fairly have been roused. Their possession of this islet was, however, a very different matter. In his opinion they had no ulterior objects in view; and, certainly, if they entertained any such, they had acquired no very great facilities for carrying them into effect.

Conversation ended.