HC Deb 13 June 1856 vol 142 cc1403-6
MR. DISRAELI

Sir, I will now make that inquiry of the noble Lord at the head of the Government which I was prevented by his absence from making yesterday. I wish to know whether information has now reached the noble Lord that diplomatic relations between Her Majesty's Minister at Washington and the Government to which he was accredited have ceased? Whether, also, the noble Lord has learnt the exequatur has been withdrawn from several of Her Majesty's Consuls in the United States? And, if this information be true, whether the noble Lord is prepared to inform the House what course Her Majesty's Government are ready, under these circumstances, to take?

VISCOUNT PALMERSTON

Sir, my noble Friend at the head of the Foreign Department received late on the evening of the day before yesterday, from Mr. Dallas, two despatches addressed to Mr. Dallas by Mr. Marcy, the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs in the United States—one upon the subject of the recruiting question, the other upon the subject of Central American Affairs. The question of the right hon. Gentleman relates to the first, and I shall, therefore, confine my statement to that. It resulted from that despatch that the United States' Government, although perfectly satisfied with the explanation offered by Her Majesty's Government and conveyed by Lord Clarendon, with regard to the course which Her Majesty's Government had pursued, and although they deemed that explanation as perfectly settling the question as far as the Government was concerned, nevertheless, for reasons which they allege, and upon documents of which they send copies, they do not express themselves equally satisfied with regard to the course pursued by Her Majesty's Minister at Washington and the three Consuls, at Cincinnati, Philadelphia, and New York; and they expressed to Mr. Dallas, for communication to Her Majesty's Government, their intention to deliver passports to Mr. Crampton, and to revoke—which of course every Government has a right to do—the exequatur of those three Consuls. With regard to the course which Her Majesty's Government deem it right to take on a matter so important as that, the right hon. Gentleman and the House will feel that until the Government have had an opportunity of giving full consideration to all the circumstances connected with the case, it cannot be expected I should say anything further.

MR. H. BAILLIE

I wish, Sir, to ask the noble Lord whether he will fix a day on which I can bring on the Motion of which I have given notice? The Army Estimates are fixed for Monday. I can assure the noble Lord that I am not at all disposed to interfere with the Army Estimates, if the noble Lord will fix a day when the discussion may take place; and if he is disposed so to do, perhaps he will previously lay on the table the despatch of Mr. Marcy, to which he has just referred. If the noble Lord is not disposed to name a day, there will be no other course for me to pursue but to bring on the Motion on Monday next.

VISCOUNT PALMERSTON

Sir, I desire to give every reasonable accommodation to the hon. Gentleman. Therefore, if it does not suit him to bring on his Motion on Monday, when the Army Estimates are proposed, he shall have his choice of Thursday or Friday next for that purpose.

MR. MILNER GIBSON

I understood, Sir, the noble Lord to state that Mr. Dallas made a communication to the Government with reference to the Central American question as well as the recruiting question. May I ask the noble Lord whether he feels at liberty to inform the House whether any answer is contained in that communication to the proposal to submit the Central American question to arbitration; or whether he will state what is the nature of the second communication?

VISCOUNT PALMERSTON

Sir, as it would be necessary to enter into details to give any minute explanation of that point, I do not feel myself at liberty to reply to that part of the right hon. Gentleman's question. The general tenour of the communication, however, is, that the United States Government think the main parts of the question can best be settled by direct communication between the two Governments.

MR. H. BAILLIE

As the noble Lord has been good enough to allow me to name the day, I will say next Thursday.

VISCOUNT PALMERSTON

I hope the hon. Gentleman will give us notice of what he means to move.

MR. MILNER GIBSON

In case of direct negotiation failing, will the noble Lord state whether the American Government refuses arbitration?

VISCOUNT PALMERSTON

There is no refusal of arbitration.

MR. HADFIELD

I wish to ask the noble Lord whether, before any decisive step is taken, the opinion of this House will be taken on the subject?

VISCOUNT PALMERSTON

The practice of the Governments of this country, acting upon their own responsibility, is to take the course which they may think right.

MR. HINDLEY

As the packet goes to-morrow to the United States, I wish to ask the noble Lord if the Government are likely to send an answer to the despatch by it?

MR. DISRAELI

I was about to ask another question, when an hon. Member interfered. I may be allowed to express a hope that the noble Lord will place the despatches on the table before this debate takes place.

VISCOUNT PALMERSTON

That will depend on the manner in which the Government may reply to the despatches.

LORD JOHN RUSSELL

Mr. Speaker, I wish to say a few words with reference to the statement of my noble Friend at the head of the Government. It appears from my noble Friend's statement, that Her Majesty's Minister at Washington has been furnished with his passports and desired to leave America; that Mr. Dallas, the American Minister at this Court, has been furnished with instructions with regard to certain points connected with the Central American question, upon which it is desired that direct negotiation should take place between the two countries; and that with regard to other points an arbitration will be agreed to. I do not wish at all to find fault with my noble Friend for not giving further information to the House, but I think this is a most critical state of affairs, and that the House ought to have some information with respect to it. I do not now propose to ask my noble Friend any question, as he has stated that the Government have not decided upon the course they will take; but I shall think it my duty on Monday, before the House enters upon the consideration of the Army Estimates, to ask my noble Friend for some explanation of the course which the Government propose to pursue. It is not, perhaps, desirable that the House should require any discussion to take place upon these subjects. Although it would be somewhat of a surrender of the privileges of the House, I can conceive that circumstances may be such that all discussion and all explanation ought to be avoided; but I cannot but perceive that while the House is silent upon these subjects they have been taken up by the newspapers, and that articles have appeared in some of those newspapers rather calculated to give the Americans an impression highly unfavourable to the continuance of peace between the two countries. Now, I am so persuaded that this House and the whole nation earnestly desire the continuance of peace, that I think it is most desirable that my noble Friend should take an early opportunity of stating the views of the Government. I shall, therefore, on Monday next, before the House goes into Committee of Supply, ask my noble Friend what course the Government intend to pursue with regard to Mr. Dallas, the American Minister at this Court, and whether the negotiations proposed by the American Government will be entered into by Her Majesty's Government?