HC Deb 07 February 1856 vol 140 cc383-4
MR. H. BAILLIE

I wish, Sir, to ask the First Lord of the Treasury, whether he has any objection to lay upon the table of the House the correspondence which has taken place with the Prussian Government, relative to the employment of agents for the enlistment of troops, and in reference to the arrest of Her Majesty's Consul at Cologne upon the charge of being engaged in such proceedings; also any communications which may have been made by the authorities of the Hanse Towns with reference to the subject of enlistment?

VISCOUNT PALMERSTON

Sir, I certainly shall object to produce to the House the correspondence with regard to our Consul at Cologne. There were charges brought against Mr. Curtis which Her Majesty's Government had good reason to believe were supported by evidence not entitled to credence. A great deal of communication passed between Her Majesty's Government and the Prussian Government. The trial at Cologne and the condemnation of Mr. Curtis followed, which, in our opinion, was not just; but we could not expect the Prussian Government to acquiesce in our opinion, as they were entitled to place confidence in the judgment of their own tribunal. Nevertheless, as a matter of courtesy towards Her Majesty's Government, the King of Prussia pardoned Mr. Curtis as soon as the final sentence of the Court was delivered. The correspondence involved a good deal of controversy. The transaction has ended satisfactorily and amicably, and I think no public advantage would arise, but the contrary, from laying the papers on the table of the House. With regard to the other question, there has really been no correspondence on the subject. Representations were made to the Government of Hamburg with respect to enlistment going on, and a communication was made by the Hamburg Government to Colonel Hodges, but it did not need any reply. At Hamburg five or six persons were tried and convicted of enlisting contrary to law. No communication has, however, been made to Her Majesty's Consul General at Hamburg, and there consequently is nothing to produce on the subject.