§ MR. MILNER GIBSONSir, a short time since the Government laid on the table of the House certain papers relating to the recent negotiations at Vienna upon the Eastern question. I wish to ask the noble Lord at the head of the Government whether he will, upon an early day, give the House an opportunity of expressing their opinions upon the information contained in those papers. I have, for one, given notice of an Address to the Crown with reference to that subject; and no doubt other hon. Members have formed views, after perusing those papers, which they are desirous of stating to the House. My inquiry, therefore, is, whether the noble Lord will give the House a very early opportunity of discussing and expressing their opinions of those papers?
§ MR. LAYARDSir, before the noble Lord answers the question which has just been addressed to him by the right hon. Member for Manchester, perhaps he will permit me to ask one also. I suppose it will be convenient to the House that the right hon. Gentleman's Motion for an Address to the Crown should be discussed before Whitsuntide. If so, it must also he convenient to the House that the day on which I am to bring forward the Resolutions of which I have given notice should be fixed. Now, if quite convenient to the noble Lord, I would suggest either Friday or Monday next as the day for introducing my Resolutions to the notice of the House. I can assure the noble Lord that I have no wish to take any unfair advantage of the Government.
§ VISCOUNT PALMERSTONI can only state, Sir, in reply to the questions which have been addressed to me, that the Government have several measures of great importance that are now in progress through the House. For example, there is Supply, and there are also two or three Bills of pressing urgency. Besides, I think it is very unreasonable, as well as unusual, that the hon. Gentlemen who have given notices of Motions for days on which they have precedence should expect the Government to put off important public business for their accommodation. I am sure the right hon. Gentleman the Member for Manchester (Mr. M. Gibson) will have no difficulty in finding a day on which, without disturbing the usual course of business, he may bring forward the Address of which he has given notice. As to the 560 hon. Member for Aylesbury, I must remind him that I offered him a day. He did not choose to accept that offer. Well, an offer once refused cannot be expected to be renewed. I am afraid, therefore, I shall not be able to accommodate him by postponing public business. The Government are, of course, anxious to meet any Motion that either directly or indirectly censures their conduct; but, at the same time, by the forms and orders of the House, hon. Members have a fair opportunity of choosing a time for bringing such Motions forward.
§ MR. DISRAELII wish, Sir, also to make an inquiry of the Government with reference to the same subject. The noble Lord has just said, that the right hon. Gentleman the Member for Manchester, who has given notice of an Address to Her Majesty upon the papers connected with the late negotiations, can avail himself of any of those days which are open to every hon. Gentleman to bring that subject under the consideration of the House at once. Now, I apprehend, looking to the state of the Notice Paper, that it is clearly impossible for the right hon. Gentleman so to bring forward the Address of which he has given notice. Besides, I wish to draw the attention of the noble Lord to the circumstance that I do not find any precedent, when the negotiations had been terminated, and when the papers had been laid on the table, where the Minister has not himself given notice of moving an Address to the Crown with respect to those papers, and with regard to the conduct of those negotiations. Now, I will not make any observation upon the reasons which induce the Government now not to take that course; but I apprehend, if they are not prepared to take that course, they are bound—and I ask the noble Lord whether he does not feel himself bound—to secure to any hon. Member not connected with the Government an opportunity of fulfilling his duty in that respect.
§ VISCOUNT PALMERSTONSir, I have no wish to throw any impediment in the way of those hon. Members who may wish to take the sense of the House upon the subject of the late negotiations. But it must be recollected that there are Supply, and two or three other matters which are very pressing. I should think, however, that it is in the power of any hon. Member who has an important Motion to bring forward so to arrange with other Gentlemen, who have Motions upon the 561 paper which have precedence as to secure a convenient opportunity for introducing a Resolution of great and unparalleled importance to the public. It is impossible to answer these questions off-hand without notice; but, as far as seems compatible with the progress of the public service, I can assure the right hon. Gentleman opposite that there is nothing but willingness—I would rather say, indeed, a desire—on the part of the Government that the sense of Parliament should be ascertained one way or other upon matters of such great and paramount interest to the country.
§ MR. DISRAELIThen it is not the intention of the noble Lord himself to propose an Address of that character?
§ VISCOUNT PALMERSTONNo.