§ Viscount Palmerstonwas desirous to ask a question of the right hon. Baronet opposite on a subject which had been mentioned in the Speech from the Throne — namely, the treaty between the five Powers for the suppression of the Slave Trade. In order that the House might properly comprehend the bearing of the question he would first state to the House the course of proceedings which led to that treaty. The treaty, as the House knew by the papers which had been laid before it, was the result of a conference held in December, 1838, at the Foreign-office, and which was assembled in order that the plenipotentiaries of France and England might propose to the plenipotentiaries of Austria, Russia, and Prussia the continuation of the negotiations for the suppression of the Slave-trade that had been begun at the Congress of Vienna. There was this remarkable circumstance in that conference, that whereas, at the Congress of Vienna, England stood almost alone in urging the other powers of Europe to take measures for that purpose, on this occasion, in December, 1838. France occupied the same honourable position which England had before occupied alone, and the proposal to enter into this treaty proceeded as much from France as from England, and the two countries were equally entitled to the honour of making the proposition. At that conference a draught of the treaty was proposed by the plenipotentiaries of France and England to the plenipotentiaries of the other powers. The other three plenipotentiaries said they would refer it to their respective courts for instructions; and the plenipotentiaries of France and England stated that they hoped that the detailed provisions of that draught would be found reconcileable with the rights and interests of the subjects of the other powers. Many communications passed on this subject, and towards the end of last summer the matter stood in this situation—the treaty had been agreed to by the three Powers, and nothing but the signatures and the arrangement of some matters of form were necessary to make it effectual. What he Wished, then, to ask of the right hon. 146 Baronet was, whether the treaty as it was concluded had been altered in any material respect from the draught as it stood at the period when the late Government left office; and he also wished to know whether the ratifications of any of the contracting parties had been received, and if so, whether they had been exchanged for the ratifications on the part of the British Crown? He might be allowed to say, that never perhaps did any of the five Powers conclude a treaty more honourable to themselves, or one which was founded on purer motives or more complete disinterestedness, than that to which he referred. If the right hon. Baronet thought that it would be inconvenient to answer these questions he would be satisfied with such an intimation.
§ Sir R. Peelobserved, that he did not foresee any public inconvenience in replying to the questions which had been proposed by the noble Lord. He could fully confirm, if indeed any confirmation were necessary, the accuracy of the statement made by the noble Lord with respect to the circumstances under which this treaty was considered and signed. The invitation was addressed jointly by England and France to the three other powers, requesting them to join in an united effort for the purpose of suppressing that traffic which had been declared to be odious and infamous by the voice of this country. The treaty was signed by the five powers, subsequent to the appointment of the present Ministers. He was not, however, aware that any important alterations had been made in the treaty, as it was signed, from the treaty as it was originally agreed upon at an earlier period. There were, he believed, some modifications, but they were not of a nature that would at all justify him in characterising them as important. They were modifications intended to further the general objects of the treaty. The noble Lord's second question was, whether the ratifications of any of the contracting parties had been received, and whether they had been exchanged with those of this country. No such exchange of ratifications had taken place. The period allowed for the exchange of ratifications would not expire till the 20th of this month. He had, however, reason to believe that the ratifications of some of the contracting powers had been received in London; but, as the period allowed for the exchange would not terminate till the 147 20th of February, no surprise could be felt that the exchange had not yet taken place.