§ EARL STANHOPEMy Lords, with reference to a subject on which there was some discussion on Tuesday evening, I wish to put a Question to my noble Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, of which I have given him Notice. I wish to ask him, Whether the rumour is well founded that the President of the French Republic has resolved to put an end to the most vexatious and most useless system of French passports for persons entering France from this country? I would further ask my noble Friend at what time the abolition, if the President has decided upon it, will be carried into effect?
§ EARL GRANVILLEMy Lords, in reply to my noble Friend, I have great pleasure in stating that this evening the Chargé d'Affaires of the French Republic has communicated to me that in 10 or 12 days an arrangement will be made with respect to passports, for the purpose of avoiding the loss of money and 1074 the loss of time now experienced, which arrangement will, he hopes, be perfectly satisfactory to this country. I cannot, my Lords, refer to this communication without expressing the satisfaction I feel at the evidence thus given of the good feeling on the part of the French Government towards this country.