§ MR. J. EWARTsaid, he would beg to ask the noble Lord at the head of the Government, whether it might be practicable to endeavour to make arrangements with the Russian Government for the removal of vexatious restrictions imposed upon British traders in Russia; more particularly the regulations of the guilds as to 779 the buying and reselling of imports and exports?
§ VISCOUNT PALMERSTONI am fully aware, Sir, that the internal regulations of Russia affecting trade are exceedingly unfavourable to commercial transactions, and a grievance to foreigners; and, undoubtedly, Her Majesty's Ministers will be anxious to avail themselves of any proper opportunity to impress on the Russian Government the expediency, for the sake even of its own interests, of establishing a more liberal commercial system within its own dominions. But I am sure that the hon. Member and the House will feel that with the negotiation now proceeding on the subject of the general pacification of Europe this is hardly the most fitting moment for opening a discussion of that nature. The Russian Government would, in all probability, be indisposed to mix up matters relating to its own commercial policy with the question of peace; and, therefore, a more opportune occasion must be chosen for commencing the overtures to which the hon. Gentleman refers. I can assure the House, however, that the subject shall not escape the attention of Her Majesty's Government.