LORD HOUGHTONsaid, that notwithstanding the great events which had occurred since the American War, there was hardly any decision of the British Government which had more historical importance than the determination, in the crisis of the American Rebellion, not to recognize the Southern Confederacy. He had no doubt that that decision was come to on grounds of large policy—a policy broad enough to overcome all personal opinions and prejudices; but it was probable—indeed, almost certain—that it was not arrived at without weighing the position of the question in the minds of other European Governments. He believed it was admitted that one great European Power was decidedly in favour of recognition, and that the British Cabinet came to a decision counter to the opinion and desire of that Power. 333 Now, a rumour had lately been spread in the great country on the other side of the Atlantic, with which we were at present engaged in such interesting negotiations, to the effect that the British Government was fully inclined to recognize the South, and was diverted from that purpose by the influence and expressly avowed opinion of another great Power, which assumed—perhaps somewhat ostentatiously—to be the chief friend of America in Europe. That rumour had been widely spread in the United States, and the name of a distinguished diplomatist—the Russian Minister at Washington—had been mixed up with the story, he having, it was alleged, stated that the rumour was correct. He had given his noble Friend (Earl Granville) sufficient notice of his Question to enable him to refer to contemporary documents at the Foreign Office, so as fully to inform himself whether there was any intervention by the Russian Government to influence the decision of the British Cabinet. He had brought the matter forward because if such an opinion extended itself it might seriously injure suspending negotiations with the United States. It was important that that country should understand the real motives of our conduct during its great struggle, and that it should do justice to the course taken by the British Cabinet of that time with regard to its interests. He would ask his noble Friend, Whether he is aware of the rumour that the present Russian Minister to the United States of America has stated that the British Government was only prevented from recognizing the independence of the Southern Confederacy by the influence and mediation of Russia?
§ EARL GRANVILLEThe rumour to which my noble Friend (Lord Houghton) has alluded has certainly reached me; but I trust, like many other rumours, it is unfounded—for any such statement would be founded on a complete misapprehension of the facts. As to the facts, I can speak with authority, for I had the honour of being a member of Lord Palmerston's Cabinet; and I have communicated not only with Mr. Gladstone and Mr. Card-well, who were also members of it, but with Lord Russell, and I am speaking in the presence of the Lord Privy Seal (Viscount Halifax) and the noble Duke behind me (the Duke of Somerset) who are also cognizant of 334 the facts. There is no record in the Foreign Office of any influence having been used in this matter by the Russian Government; and, moreover, it was not required, as no proposal was ever entertained by Lord Palmerston's Cabinet for the recognition of the Confederate States.
§ THE DUKE OF SOMERSETAs a member of Lord Palmerston's Cabinet, I can perfectly confirm the statement of my noble Friend. Being at the time at the Admiralty, and therefore at the head of the Navy, any such proposal as this would have attracted my serious attention, and I could not possibly have forgotten it. I am certain that no such proposal was ever made.