§ MR. URQUHARTbegged to ask the noble Lord the Foreign Secretary what conditions had been attached to the liberation of the Hungarian and Polish refugees from confinement in Turkey? In the first place, was one of the conditions that they shall not return to Turkey? In the next place, if so, was that condition assented to by Her Majesty's Government? and, thirdly, was there any ground for the belief universally entertained by the parties concerned that Her Majesty's Government had not only assented to but had advised and originated that condition? In short, was there any ground for the belief that was universally entertained that the expulsion of these refugees from Turkey was made a condition by Great Britain, and not by Russia or Austria?
§ VISCOUNT PALMERSTONSir, I have no positive knowledge of the conditions that may have been attached to the departure of those Polish and Hungarian refugees from Turkey; but I have reason to believe that there is attached that condition to Which the hon. Gentleman has alluded, namely, that they shall not return again to Turkey. With regard to the Polish subjects it is quite clear that such a condition is entirely in conformity with the treaties between Turkey and Russia. In fact, it was the alternative which the Sultan was entitled to choose when Russia required the surrender of those Poles, and the Sultan chose their expulsion from the Turkish territory. With regard to them there can be no doubt. With regard to the Hungarian refugees, being subjects of Austria, the obligations of the Sultan towards Austria undoubtedly are, that he shall not permit his territory to be made a place from whence any attempt might proceed to create disturbance in the Austrian dominions. The Austrian Government require that as a mode of executing the obligations of the Sultan, he shall keep such, dangerous persons confined within his territories. It was found, however, that the Sultan would be considered to have fulfilled his obligations of good neighbourhood towards Austria if he sent these Hungarians out of his dominions. The advice given by Her Majesty's Government to the Turkish Government, therefore, was in accordance with these views. The 783 Sultan has an unquestionable right to attach to their departure the condition which the hon. Member mentions; and it will be very much to the advantage of all parties that, by not returning to the Tuskish territories, these Hungarians shall not give rise to future discussions, embarrassing to themselves, to Turkey, to Austria, and to Russia.
§ MR. URQUHARTwished particularly to understand, had or had not the British Government assented to this condition?
§ VISCOUNT PALMERSTONThe British Government has not been required either to sanction or refuse that condition. But I have no difficulty in saying that from the first the advice which we gave to the Turkish Government was to cut short those embarrassing questions between it and the Government of Austria by dismissing these persons from the Turkish territory.