§ MR. URQUHARTbegged to put the question, of which he had given notice, whether there was any certain information as to the withdrawal of the Russian troops from the Danubian provinces?
§ VISCOUNT PALMERSTONThe question is with regard to the evacuation of the Danubian provinces. The answer which I have to give is, that, by late accounts received, both from Constantinople and from St. Petersburgh, I am induced to believe that the evacuation of those provinces, both by the Turkish and Russian troops, has been ordered, and will very shortly take place.
§ MR. URQUHARThad to ask further, pursuant to notice, if the noble Lord was in possession of any information as to the conditions attached to that evacuation? And, perhaps, the noble Lord would, at the same time, be so good as to state, whether the signified time of their detention having elapsed, the Hungarian refugees in Turkey were likely to be soon liberated; and, also, if the noble Lord could properly answer that question, whether the English Government was favourable to the views of those who desired to see the liberation of those Hungarians, or to the views of Austria, which sought their continued detention?
§ VISCOUNT PALMERSTONThe only conditions annexed to the evacuation of the Danubian provinces are the conditions which are stipulated in the agreement which was made two years ago, by which the two parties, Turkey and Russia, contracted to withdraw their troops from those 1318 provinces whenever tranquillity should be restored, but each of them to keep certain forces within their own frontiers, but on the frontiers of the Danubian provinces, for a certain time after, in case of circumstances arising which might require a new occupation. With regard to the question in respect to the Hungarian refugees in Turkey, what I have to state is this—There were about 76 Hungarian refugees altogether at the time. Of these 76, 60 were, by the last accounts, about to be set free by the Turkish Government, in consequence of an understanding with the Government of Austria. With regard to the 16 remaining, I only know that, by the last accounts, communications were going on still between the Government of Turkey and the Government of Austria—the Government of Turkey desiring to set free the whole of them. The understanding established between Turkey and Austria on this point went to this—that the Sultan engaged to detain these Hungarians only until tranquillity should be re-established in Hungary. With regard to the wishes, in this matter, of Her Majesty's Government, I have not the least hesitation in saying, that we desire that those Hungarian refugees should all of them be set free; and my own opinion distinctly is, that a due regard to the dignity and independence of the Sultan would induce him to use that liberty which the understanding with Austria has conferred on him, by freeing all those unfortunate men. Subject dropped.