HC Deb 29 June 1854 vol 134 cc880-2
LORD DUDLEY STUART

said, he was desirous of putting a question to the noble Lord the President of the Council of which he had not given notice. If, however, notice were required, he would defer the question till another day. He wished to know whether any treaty or convention had been signed between Austria and the Porte with regard to the occupation of the Principalities by Austrian troops? Whether, in case such a convention had been entered into, the treaty had been communicated to Her Majesty's Government; and, if so, whether there would be any objection to lay it upon the table? He also wished to ask whether the intelligence, which had been very freely circulated, that the Emperor of Russia had accepted the ultimatum of Austria, had been confirmed, and whether the retirement of the Russian troops from the Danube, with a view to the evacuation of the Principalities, was, according to information received by the Government, in consequence of an understanding come to between Austria and Russia?

LORD JOHN RUSSELL

In answer, Sir, to the first question of my noble Friend, I have to say that Her Majesty's Government have received information that a convention has been signed between Austria and the Sublime Porte for the occupation of the Danubian Principalities by Austrian troops in any case, either whether the Russian troops shall have quitted the Principalities, or whether they shall seek to remain there—that is to say, if the Russians have voluntarily left the Principalities, the Austrian troops will occupy them; and if the Russians should refuse to quit the Principalities, the Austrian troops will enter those Principalities for the purpose of driving them out. That is the effect of the treaty; but we have not at present an official copy of the convention which has been signed, and therefore I cannot promise yet to lay it upon the table of this House. With regard to my noble Friend's second question, which relates to any intelligence that has been received by Her Majesty's Government with respect to the Emperor of Russia having consented to the ultimatum of Austria, I have to state that no official information of that nature has been received by the Government. The last time that I saw the Austrian Minister he informed me that no answer had yet been received at Vienna; and I suppose, unless subsequent information has arrived, that no answer has yet been received.

SIR HENRY WILLOUGHBY

Sir, I wish to ask the noble Lord if this country is any party to the convention, which he states has been concluded between Austria and the Porte?

LORD JOHN RUSSELL

It is a con- vention between Austria and the Porte, and this country is not a party to it.

MR. LAYARD

said, he would beg to ask the noble Lord if he would lay on the table of that House a despatch on the subject of the Treaty of Adrianople, which had been laid on the table of the House of Lords?

LORD JOHN RUSSELL

If my hon. Friend or any other hon. Member will move for the production of the despatch, there will be no objection to produce it.

MR. LAYARD

said, in that case he gave notice that he would move that it be laid on the table.

Subject dropped.