HC Deb 09 July 1839 vol 49 c82
Mr. O'Connell

wished to put a question to the noble Lord at the head of the Foreign Department, relative to that portion of the Mexican territory, calling themselves the state of Texas. He wished to know whether anything had been done by the Government for the purpose of recognising the independence of that state?

Viscount Palmerston

stated, that an application had been made to the Government in the early part of the last year by persons from Texas, for the purpose of knowing whether the Government were prepared to acknowledge the independence of Texas. The answer given to that application was, that the general principle of the Government was to acknowledge every state that was de facto and permanently independent, but they were not then prepared to acknowledge the independence of Texas. He had also to state that, as soon as he knew that the British Minister had succeeded in effecting a reconciliation between France and Mexico, instructions had been forwarded to him to endeavour to bring about some understanding between Mexico and Texas.