HC Deb 27 July 1840 vol 55 cc1026-7

On the further consideration of the report of the committee of Supply, and on the resolution, that the sum of 127,234l. granted to defray the salaries and expenses of the Foreign Department, be reduced to 103,234l.

Mr. Goulburn

said, he was glad that the discussion that had taken place on this subject, and the delay that had occurred had been productive of such good effects. He still thought, that a greater reduction might be made in the expenses of the Foreign Department.

Viscount Palmerston

had said, when the estimate was formerly before the House, that he was not answerable for it; it had been made by the Post-office, and had been framed on a calculation of the amount of correspondence which formerly took place. The present reduction in the estimate had been made in some degree in consequence of the stricter regulations which he had introduced, with respect to the foreign bags, in which much laxity had undoubtedly prevailed.

Sir Robert Peel

would ask a question which would not affect the future policy; it was, whether the contingency had arrived which was contemplated in the Quadruple Treaty entered into between this country, France, Spain, and Portugal? Whether the conditions of that treaty had been fulfilled, or whether the treaty was still in force?

Viscount Palmerston

conceived, that the fair meaning of the parties to that treaty was, an engagement to assist the Queen of Spain through the contest that was then going on between the Queen of Spain and Don Carlos. Substantially he believed that that contest was over. Don Carlos had been expelled from Spain, and no less than 27,000 of his troops had crossed the frontier and were now in France. Virtually then, he said, that the engagement was over; but if immediately the same state of things should arise, the spirit of that treaty would require a recurrence to the same steps as were required formerly; the treaty would, as he conceived, be still in force, and the same parties would be equally bound by it.

Sir R. Peel

Then with respect to any intestine troubles, wholly unconnected with Don Carlos, the treaty, he apprehended, was not in operation.

Resolution agreed to.