§ MR. LAYARDI wish, Sir, to ask a question of the noble Lord the Member for the City of London, and I think it will be for the interest of the country that I should receive a clear and explicit answer. The noble Lord, on Friday evening, stated that a certain new proposal has been made to the Emperor of Russia—in other words, that he has been given until the beginning of May to evacuate the Principalities. The noble Lord also stated that on the 27th of April he should be prepared to bring forward the Reform Bill, supposing, in the meanwhile, the Eastern affair should be settled in consequence of the proposal which has been made to the Emperor of Russia. What I wish to ask is this—whether, in the event of the Emperor of Russia withdrawing his forces from the Principalities, we are to consider he would thereby be placed in the same position as he was before the commencement of the war? I wish to know also whether, in the event supposed, the old treaties are still to be in force, and whether the relations between Russia and Turkey, and between Russia and the European Powers, are to be precisely on the same footing as they were before the commencement of hostilities.
§ LORD JOHN RUSSELLSir, the hon. Gentleman has somewhat misunderstood what I said on Friday evening. With respect to his question, I have to state that the proposal which has been made to the Emperor of Russia has no reference to the treaties between Russia and Turkey. We consider that the occupation of the Principalities belonging to the Sultan is a wrongful occupation, and we therefore ask the Emperor of Russia to evacuate those Principalities by the 30th of April, but if he accedes to that request of ours, that would by no means be conclusive as to the war between Russia and Turkey. It could not at all include any question affecting the treaties between Russia and Turkey. The decision of that 357 question would follow, and would of course be a matter of negotiation totally separate from any demands of ours.
§ MR. LAYARDThe noble Lord has not answered my question. It is, whether there is a definite proposal which enables the Emperor of Russia to resume the negotiations which existed at the time when you gave him so many days to accept certain proposals that were made to him, in consequence of the Conference at Vienna, and of certain proceedings which took place at Constantinople? If so, we shall return to the status quo ante bellum.
§ LORD JOHN RUSSELLI do not know that I can give any further explanation to the hon. Gentleman. What we propose is, that the Principalities should be evacuated. If the Emperor of Russia were to consent to that request, and were to evacuate the Principalities, of course it would then be open to him and the Sultan to negotiate afresh, and it would be equally open to the four Powers to mediate and take part in those renewed negotiations.
§ MR. LAYARDI beg to give notice that I shall take an early opportunity of bringing this question, in a definite shape, before the House.