§ Mr. Hindleybegged to ask the right hon. Baronet, the First Lord of the Treasury, whether any communication had taken place with the great Northern Powers of Europe respecting the recognition of the Spanish government, and when was there a prospect of that recognition taking place?
§ Sir Robert Peelsaid, it was no easy matter to give a perfectly simple and brief answer to a question of the nature of that put by the hon. Gentleman. He would take the opportunity of stating, in answer to it, that the policy of this country with respect to Spain was perfectly simple and open. There was no reserve whatever with regard to it. It was the anxious wish of the Government to see Spain a prosperous, powerful, and independent country—independent of all foreign powers. They did not grudge her the enjoyment of prosperity, being perfectly satisfied that no power that she could possess for her own just defence could be in the slightest degree an object of jealousy to this country. It had been the desire of this Government certainly to give strength and stability as far as possible, by their councils and the exercise of their influence, to the present government of Spain. They thought they saw under that government indications of a rapid advance in civilization and prosperity, and they certainly had exercised such influence as they could with propriety exercise for the purpose of inducing the governments of continental Europe — the three great powers—to recognise that government of Spain. They wished to give it stability, thinking and believing that it was the government which, upon the whole, in the present condition of Spain, was best calculated to advance her interests. It was impossible to answer the question of the hon. Gentleman as to the period at which the recognition of the other powers would take place. He could only say, that the influence of the Government should be directed in a friendly and amicable way for the purpose of giving that stability to the Spanish government which they thought would follow from its recognition by the other powers. He repeated, that they had no reserve or secret in their policy towards Spain. His belief was, that it was an object of the greatest importance to Europe to see that country restored to a position of peace and prosperity, and filling that station of independence which 806 it used to fill among the great family of European states. He earnestly hoped to see that great object effected, and no exertion on the part of England should be wanting to secure it.