§ LORD COLCHESTERasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Whether the attention of Her Majesty's Government has been called to reports circulated by the Austrian Press to the effect that the policy of the British Government is to await and take part in the partition of Turkey; and, whether he would have any objection to state if there was any foundation for such report?
§ THE EARL OF DERBYMy Lords, I cannot say that my attention has been specially called to the reports to which my noble Friend has referred; and though I cannot answer for my Colleagues, I think it probable that their attention has been directed to those reports in even a less degree. I have seen so many wild and eccentric statements in Continental journals as to the policy and intentions of the British Go- 746 vernment, that I should not be inclined to attach much importance to them, or take take much notice of them; and, certainly, if my noble Friend had not brought this matter forward, I should not have thought that these rumours, however precise may be their nature, were worthy of contradiction in this House. I have, however, not the slightest difficulty in satisfying the anxiety of my noble Friend by assuring him that the reports to which he refers have no foundation whatever.
§ House adjourned at half-past Six o'clock, till To-morrow, Two o'clock.