§ Sir Rich. Vyvyanwished to ask a question of the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs; but, as that noble Lord was not in his place, he would beg leave to apply himself to the noble Lord opposite. It was well known, that the King of Holland had intimated his intention of breaking the armistice which had been concluded between 830 Holland and Belgium. The question, which he wished to ask, was, whether his Majesty's Government had received official information—whether the King of Holland had formally notified to them his intention of terminating the armistice?
§ Lord Althorpanswered, that his Majesty's Government had received, from Sir Charles Bagot, official information of the intention of the King of Holland to put an end to the armistice between Holland and Belgium.
§ Sir Rich. Vyvyanthen gave notice, that he would to-morrow move for the production of certain papers, for the purpose of throwing light upon the transaction.
§ Mr. Crokerbegged to ask, if his Majesty's Government had received any communication on the subject from the Dutch government?
§ Lord Althorprepeated, that the first communication which his Majesty's Government had received, was from Sir Charles Bagot.
§ Mr. Crokerobserved, that it was a matter of great importance, whether his Majesty's Government had received the communication of the intention of the King of Holland to terminate the armistice directly from the Dutch government, or by a circuitous channel.
§ Lord AlthorpI must, in reply to the right hon. Gentleman, say, that it was with the greatest surprise that his Majesty's Government learned from Sir Charles Bagot, that it was the intention of the King of Holland to put an end to the armistice; for, at that moment, a Minister was sent to the British Court by the King of Holland, with orders to enter into a negotiation on the matters pending between Holland and Belgium. That Minister had an interview with my noble friend, the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, in which interview he did not mention a word of the probability that the armistice would be broken; and, it was not until the evening, and after a question had been put on the subject in Parliament, by a noble Lord, that my noble friend received despatches from Sir Charles Bagot, informing him, that it was the intention of the King of Holland to terminate the armistice between Holland and Belgium.