HC Deb 27 July 1838 vol 44 cc720-1

On the motion, that the Speaker leave the chair, for the House to go into a Committee of Supply,

Sir S. Canning

would avail himself of the opportunity to make some further inquiries on a subject on which he had on a former occasion applied for an answer to the right hon. President of the Board of Control. He hoped, that he might now be permitted to ask what was the nature and object of the expedition which had recently been sent from Bombay to Bushire. He asked this question because, from the Indian newspapers, there was every reason to believe, that it was connected with hostilities towards Persia. It had long been known, that an intimate connexion of a diplomatic kind existed between Persia and Russia. It was also known, that that connexion had of late assumed a closer character, for the siege of Herat was now directed by the Russian envoy, who happened to be an officer of engineers. He mentioned this to shew the importance of the subject, connected as it was with Persia on the one hand, and with Russia on the other. He understood, that it was notorious, that a connexion subsisted at present between Russia and Persia, and that it was even carried to the extent of being of an offensive and defensive nature. Now, the nature of the expedition recently sent from Bombay seemed to compromise our pacific relations with Persia, and if so with Russia. He therefore requested the noble Secretary to inform him, if he deemed it compatible with his public duty, first, whether the object of that expedition was such as would justify Persia in placing herself in a hostile relation towards us; and secondly, whether he had received any information as to the nature of the secret treaty between Russia and Persia.

Viscount Palmerston

could only refer the right hon. Gentleman to the answer which he had already received from his right hon. Friend, the President of the Board of Control, that the expedition to Bushire had been sent out, not by this Government, but by the Governor-general of India. As to the secret treaty which the right hon. Gentleman conceived to exist between Russia and Persia, he had no information.

Sir R. Peel

contended, that this was not an unnatural question to put to the noble Lord on going into a committee of supply. Surely, the House had a right to know in what position its foreign relations were placed. He, therefore, would ask the noble Lord whether the expedition had sailed to occupy any part of Persia. Had it gone with hostile intentions towards Persia, or by the solicitation of the Government of Persia? To say that it had gone by the authority of the Governor-general was no answer to the question. We ought to know whether it had sailed with hostile intentions against Persia.

Viscount Palmerston

submitted, that the right hon. Baronet should have put that question to his right hon. Friend, the President of the Board of Control, when he stated, that the expedition had been sent in consequence of an order from the Governor-general of India.

Subject dropped.