Commons Sitting of 12 August 1854

THE EVACUATION OF THE DANUBIAN PRINCIPALITIES—QUESTION.
MR. HUMEsaid, he wished to know whether, before the House separated, any information could be given upon a subject which had been alluded to in another place two nights ago, as calculated to lead to a hope that the first object which this country had in view in declaring the war had been obtained, namely, clearing the Danubian Principalities of Russian troops, which appeared to have been effected entirely by the Turkish troops, backed, no doubt, by the support of the French and English forces. The country was very naturally most impatient to know the nature of the communication which Austria had made to France and England, requiring securities for future peace. It was important to know whether Austria and Prussia—more especially Austria—were prepared to concur with us in demanding these securities, which would prevent the peace of Europe being again disturbed upon such frivolous grounds as those upon which the present war had been commenced.
LORD JOHN RUSSELLstated, in answer to the question of the hon. Member, that there had been very lately a communication made by the Russian Minister at Vienna to the Government of His Imperial Majesty the Emperor of Austria, stating that it was the intention of the Emperor of Russia to evacuate the Principalities—Moldavia as well as Wallachia; at the same time there was a declaration made by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Austria to Her Majesty's Minister at Vienna, and to the French Minister at that Court on the same occasion, that he was ready to proceed to the interchange of notes which had been before agreed upon, notwithstanding the evacuation of the Principalities. The notes of the English and French Ministers contained a statement of the general nature of the securities which would be required for the future peace of Europe against the aggression of Russia. It was unnecessary for him to enter into the nature of these securities, as they had been stated in a very able paper by the French Minister on Foreign Affairs, which had

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been published by order of the Emperor in the Moniteur, and which hon. Members had no doubt seen. The answer of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Emperor of Austria was so far satisfactory, as it showed that the Emperor of Austria would not be satisfied with the restoration of the status quo ante bellum, and that there was a general opinion with respect to the securities which were required by the English and French Governments being a proper basis of negotiation. The Austrian Minister did not go further at present. It remained to be seen whether the Government of His Imperial Majesty would think proper to communicate the interchange of notes which had taken place to the Government at St. Petersburg, and whether the armaments which had been made by the Emperor of Austria would be put in action in order to obtain by force, if they could not be obtained by negotiation, those securities which England and France
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had thought actually necessary, and which he trusted the German Powers would likewise concur in asking and insisting upon from Russia.

PROROGATION OF THE PARLIAMENT.
Message to attend HER MAJESTY.
The House went, and the Royal Assent was given to several Bills, after which HER MAJESTY was pleased to make a Most Gracious Speech to both Houses of Parliament.
Then the LORD CHANCELLOR, by HER MAJESTY'S Command, said—
"MY LORDS, AND GENTLEMEN,
"It is HER MAJESTY'S Royal will and pleasure, that this Parliament be prorogued to Thursday the nineteenth day of October next, to be then here holden; and this Parliament is accordingly prorogued to Thursday the nineteenth day of October.