HC Deb 11 August 1843 vol 71 cc548-50
Mr. Vernon Smith

wished to put a question to the right hon. Gentleman at the head of the Treasury respecting the transactions of Scinde. The hon. Member for Bath having abandoned his motion, there was no chance at this period of the Session of having a discussion of the question. He did not mean to express any opinion on the papers which the right hon. Baronet had laid on the Table. He only wished to elucidate the question he meant to ask by reading a passage from the last paper but one of that collection—the notification of the Governor-general of India. The last paper in the collection was an extract from the Governor-general says, after adverting to the success of the army:— Thus has victory placed at the disposal of the British Government the country on both banks of the Indus, from Sukkur to the sea, with the exception of such portions thereof as may belong to Meer Ali Moorad of Khyrpore, and to any other of the Ameers who may have remained faithful to his engagements. He wished to ask then, and he was sure the right hon. Gentleman would not be surprised at his anxiety, as there could be no discussion, whether it were the intention of the Government to retain all that territory, or what it purposed to do? He did not ask that the right hon. Baronet should lay the instructions he had sent out on the Table, but he wished to know what was the opinion of the right hon. Gentleman.

Sir R. Peel

had stated to the House on a former occasion, in answer to a question whether he would lay on the table the instructions, in order to enable the House to form an opinion, that he did not consider it consistent with the duty of the Government, to lay before Parliament the instructions sent to the Governor-general of India respecting the operations of Scinde. He had said that he would take an opportunity to give a full explanation, but that then there were some points on which the information was defective, and some points on which it was altogether wanted, and that he could not go into the subject. The right hon. Gentleman now asked him to state his opinion, as he could not lay the instructions on the table; but he thought the right hon. Gentleman must have sufficient acquaintance with public business to admit that it was not possible to answer his questions, and he must, therefore, decline.

Viscount Palmerston

said, what his right hon. Friend wished was not that the right hon. Baronet should give his opinion prospectively as to the operations, but to learn what opinion the Government had formed of the operations which had taken place, and whether it thought the advance on Scinde was justified by the circumstances of the case.

Sir R. Peel

was sure that the right hon. Gentleman and the noble Lord must be aware, from their knowledge of public business, that he must postpone answering the question till be had had a full communication with the Governor-general of India.