§ MR. WISEsaid, that several documents had appeared in the German newspapers on the subject of his question, and he therefore begged to ask the Under Secretary for Foreign Affairs whether he will lay upon the Table a Copy of the Report made in May, 1857, by Consul General Ward, of Leipsic, to the British Government on the differences which had arisen between the Duchies and the Kingdom of Denmark; as well as a copy of any Observations or Reply communicated by the Danish Ministry to Her Majesty's Government in reference to the said Report?
MR. SEYMOUR FITZGERALDsaid, the subject was one which excited the greatest interest throughout Denmark and Germany, and it was also one on which Her Majesty's Government, and probably the other Powers of Europe might be called upon to express an opinion. The paper referred to by the hon. Gentleman was a Report which Consul General Ward was requested to draw up in order that it might be confidentially considered by the Government; and the hon. Gentleman would no doubt see that upon a matter of this European importance, which was still pending, and as to which Her Majesty's Government might have to adopt a particular line of policy, it was not for the convenience of the public service that a confidential Report of this nature should be published to the world, as it would be if laid on the Table of the House. The hon. 1800 Member said that documents had appeared in the German papers in reference to this subject. He (Mr. S. FitzGerald) was informed that that was the fact; but as these documents had not appeared in extenso it would be understood that good reasons existed for the reserve which had been exercised. As regarded the latter part of the question he had only to inform the hon. Member that Mr. Ward's Despatch had been confidentially communicated to the Danish Government, but that no further communication had passed respecting it.