Mr. Grove Pricesaid, that before the House resolved itself into the Committee of Supply, he wished to put two questions to the noble Secretary for Foreign Affairs, involving the honour and reputation of the nation. 1st, Whether the noble Lord (Palmerston), as a member of the government, had given any authority for the removal from Gibraltar of persons calling themselves Spanish Refugees, who for a long period had been harboured in the fortress, and had been guilty of a violation of the rights of neutrality? 2nd, Whether there would be any objection to lay upon the Table any correspondence between the Governor of Gibraltar and the Spanish authorities, relative to that violation? The hon. Member adverted to the circumstances under which a small band of refugees had entered Spain, and expressed some fears that they had been encouraged in that design by the public authorities at Gibraltar, and that the British Government had pursued towards a weak State a different course of policy to that which it would have adopted towards a powerful ally.
§ Lord Palmerston,in answer to the question of the hon. Gentleman, would first mention, that the subsisting relations between this country and Spain were those of perfect friendship and good under-Standing. The preservation of those re- 1210 lations was essential to the interests of both countries, and the British Government would consider itself liable to the most severe censure if it had connived at, much more encouraged, any attempt of the kind referred to by the hon. Member. He had learnt with great regret the occurrences of the month of January last, when no more than about thirty-four persons (for the number had been greatly exaggerated) secretly made an attack upon the Spanish lines, and being compelled again to seek refuge in the fortress, were disarmed, treated as prisoners, and ordered to quit Gibraltar. Others known to have been incidentally parties to the attempt had also been sent away, and he did not believe that one individual concerned now remained in the garrison. So much did the Governor disapprove of the design, that he had defeated a similar plan ten days before, and had called upon the Spanish authorities to point out persons who they suspected entertained any such project. It was a standing regulation in Gibraltar that no foreigner should permanently reside there, without the permission of the Secretary of State for the Colonies. The Governor could only give a temporary permission of the kind, and since the affair alluded to, he had been called upon from home to put in force the powers he possessed. His Lordship trusted that he need say no more to convince the hon. Member and the House, not only that the British Government had in no respect been privy to the breach of neutrality, but had taken the most effectual means that the fortress should not become the place from which attempts should be made to disturb the tranquillity of Spain.
§ Mr. M. Fitzgeraldconfirmed Lord Palmerston's statement, and the subject was dropped.
After a few words from Mr. G. Dawson, Sir H. Hardinge, Lord Althorp, and Mr. Hume, the Ordnance Estimates were postponed; and the House resolved itself into a Committee of Supply on the issuing of Exchequer Bills for the Relief of Ireland.