§ MR. BORTHWICKsaid: I rise to put a question, of which I have given him notice, to the noble Lord the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs; and as it relates 209 to a subject of which it is impossible to exaggerate the importance, I trust the noble Lord and the House will permit me to state my question as explicitly as I can, and at the same time to avoid, by a few explanatory words, all possible misconstruction of my motives in asking it. I refer, Sir, to some rumours which have been circulated in the French and Spanish newspapers, and which, before they assumed the shape of paragraphs there, had reached our ears by means less public, certainly, but more authentic. These rumours allege that an arrangement has been entered into between the French and Spanish Governments, in virtue of which there has been, or is to be, established a French Military Hospital, protected by a guard, in the Isla del Rey, or some other point in Port Mahon. It is added, that there is to be a French depôt for coals, on the pretext (a pretext the absurdity of which is obvious) that it is required for the supply of the French steamers running between France and her African settlements. When we look at the vast military and naval preparations—[Cries of "Order!"] The hon. Gentlemen who do not understand the Orders of the House, will be pleased to be informed that I am perfectly in order, and that were I not so, the right hon. Gentleman in the Chair would at once interrupt me. I was observing that when we regard the extensive warlike preparations by which France, in a time of profound peace, is surrounding her shores and covering the sea—when we consider her policy, its objects and tendency for the last fifteen years—and when we see, by a recent correspondence, to the substance of which I do not wish to allude—the means by which French statesmen do not scruple to carry out that policy—it will not seem strange that a subject of the British Crown and a Member of this House should venture, as I do now, to ask the Secretary of State whether he has received any official information of the alleged facts to which I have alluded, with a view to let it be known that England and this House maintain an active and vigilant jealousy over steps which so manifestly tend to sacrifice national independence, if not European liberty, to French ambition. I repeat that I put this question in no hostile spirit. I have never concealed, and I do not wish to conceal, my frank opinions upon certain dynastic revolutions in France and in Spain; but these opinions I leave now out of the question; and I say that I believe it would be an act of friendship to 210 the sagacious Prince who now occupies the French throne, were this House to signify to him that there are limits to the safe action of the most cunning diplomacy, as well as the most energetic war; and that it is possible that the negotiations of Madrid, if pushed too far, may become to the small Napoleon of peace not less fatal than the operations in Russia proved to the nobler Napoleon of war.
§ VISCOUNT PALMERSTONIn reply to the question of the hon. Gentleman, I have to state that Her Majesty's Government have received no official communication tending to confirm the report to which that question refers. On the contrary, the general result of our information leads us to imagine that that report is unfounded.