§ MR. LAYARDsaid, that he must beg to repeat the question which he had on a previous occasion put to the noble Lord at the head of the Government, with reference to the treaty which, from what he heard, they must consider to have been signed between the Governments of Persia and Russia. Hon. Members who were not conversant with the geography of the territory to which this treaty referred could not be aware of the incalculable importance of this proceeding of Russia. If they referred to the map they would find that along the frontier of Russia a considerable portion of Persian territory intervened between Russia and Turkey, and the consequence of ceding this portion of Persia to Russia would be that the latter Power would be enabled in case of hostilities to throw troops into Turkey through the only military pass which was available for that purpose. Russia had for a long time endeavoured to obtain possession of that territory, and now it appeared that she had succeeded in gaining a most important cession. The question, therefore, was one of the first magnitude, and the noble Lord he (Mr. Layard) considered was bound to give the fullest explanation he could upon it. He (Mr. Layard) was not aware whether Her Majesty's Government had received any communication in reference to this matter from the Turkish Government, but he must say that for our Allies, for whom we had expended so much blood and treasure, to submit to such a thing on the part of Russia would be most injurious. He must, therefore, ask the noble Lord whether he has forwarded any remonstrance to the Russian Ambassador, and received any explanation or communication upon the subject; and also whether it was true that the negotiations now going on in Paris between the Persian Government and Her Majesty's Government had either been suspended or altogether interrupted? He did entreat the House to discuss this matter at the earliest opportunity, because it was without question one of gigantic importance. He did not wish it to be discussed with feelings hostile to the Government, but it was necessary that hon. Members should express, as many of them were most anxious to do, their opinions upon our policy in Central Asia. Unless he heard from the noble Lord that within a few days the papers to which he had alluded would be laid upon the table, he 944 should have to call the attention of the House to the subject, for he was quite sure that the Chancellor of the Exchequer would not ask for money for the Persian expedition before this matter was fully discussed.
§ VISCOUNT PALMERSTONSir, with regard to the first question, relating to the treaty between Persia and Russia, I can only repeat the answer which I gave to the hon. Member last night, that Her Majesty's Government have had no information yet, except that which has been derived from the usual sources of public information.
§ MR. LAYARDAnd which is quite sufficient to demand an explanation.
§ VISCOUNT PALMERSTONI cannot enter into a discussion of what appears in the newspapers, and with respect to which I have had no communication. With regard to the second question, I certainly can state that it is not true that the negotiations with the Persian Ambassador in Paris have either been interrupted or suspended. Those negotiations are still going on, and I have no reason to form a different opinion to that which I have before expressed, that there is a very fair prospect of an arrangement which will be satisfactory to all parties. Under such a state of circumstances, I would again impress upon the consideration of my hon. Friend, that a discussion of the matter in this House at this particular time might have a very injurious effect. I should, therefore, hope that I am not asking too much when I entreat the House to forbear a little longer, and to allow Her Majesty's Government that free action in negotiation which can only be secured by the absence of discussions upon the subject.