§ MR. BRIGHTSir, I have to ask the noble Lord at the head of the Government a question which arises from the papers 301 which were laid before Members this morning with respect to the Vienna Conferences. I observe in the last protocol there is a passage which gives the opinion of the Austrian Government with regard to the Russian propositions for peace. The Austrian Minister states that the last Russian proposition admits of practical application and negotiation, and that it contains the elements out of which the Austrian Government would endeavour to offer something which may lead to a settlement of the questions now at issue. I wish, therefore, to ask the noble Lord whether the Austrian Government have submitted any propositions since the 26th of April, which is the date of the last protocol, and whether he will have any objection to lay that proposition before the House in the same way as the others? I should like also to ask the noble Lord whether there was any other proposition than that to which I have referred, as there is a strong rumour of one having come from Paris? I have further to ask the noble Lord if we are now to understand that the negotiations are finally closed? My reason for putting that question is, that I should not wish to bring forward anything with regard to the negotiations if I thought they were not absolutely terminated.
§ VISCOUNT PALMERSTONThere has been, Sir, no formal or written proposal made by the Austrian Government since the period to which the hon. Gentleman alludes. There have been verbal communications passed between the Austrian Government and the Governments of England and France, and also between the French Government and the English Government; but I am sure the hon. Member and the House will feel that, considering the state of the relations between the three Governments, it would not be prudent to enter into detailed explanations in regard to those communications. With respect to the question whether the negotiations have been entirely broken off, I can only repeat the answer which I gave upon a former occasion—namely, that the elements of a conference permanently exist at Vienna—that the representatives of England, of France, of Turkey, of Austria, and of Russia reside at Vienna; and therefore, if at any time any proposition were made, either by Russia directly, or by Austria on behalf of Russia, which appeared to afford any prospect of a satisfactory settlement of the question at issue, 302 there are the elements at Vienna for forming a conference and resuming negotiations.
§ MR. BRIGHTAm I to understand from the noble Lord that the matter is in that condition that any Motion on the subject of the negotiations and the fullest discussion in this House upon them would not be regarded by the Government as prejudicial to the public interests? I do not want to take the responsibility of injuring the public interests by originating a premature discussion, and therefore I am anxious to ascertain from the noble Lord if we are perfectly free to express our opinions on this subject at length?
§ VISCOUNT PALMERSTONIf my own opinion is asked, I do not think that public advantage would arise—on the contrary I would say public inconvenience would result—from the Government being compelled, in the present state of things, to enter into a detailed discussion of what was past—of proposals made and proposals rejected—of proposals which might have been made and proposals which might have been rejected—in short, entering into a wide field of discussion with respect to the relations of the different Powers which have been concerned in these negotiations. Such is my own opinion; but, of course, I have no right to control the conduct of others.