§ SIR JAMES FERGUSSONsaid, he wished to put a question to the noble Lord the Foreign Secretary on a subject in respect to which he had given notice of his intention that evening to move for papers. Could the noble Lord state to the House whether Her Majesty's Government were in possession of any information affirmative of the report which had appeared in the newspapers that troops had been placed on board of French ships of war to be sent to the coast of Syria? Next, he wished to ask whether Her Majesty's Government intended to join with the French Government in any active intervention on that coast? He begged also to inquire what was the nature of the papers which he understood a Member of the Government in the other House had promised should be laid before Parliament on this subject—whether they would be despatches from Her Majesty's representatives in the Levant, or merely a narrative of events? Lastly, he had to ask whether there would be any objection to produce the despatches which the Foreign Office had received from the Consul General at Beyrout?
§ LORD JOHN RUSSELLWe have no intelligence that any troops have been placed on board of French ships with a view to interference in Syria; but the 2230 French Government are in communication with the Great Powers of Europe, and I believe with the Porte, with a view to consider whether an intervention should not be made for the purpose of assisting in putting down the authors of the massacres in Syria; and that is a subject which is at present occupying the attention of Her Majesty's Government as well as of the French Government. I do not believe there is any intention on the part of France to act alone in this matter. With regard to any interference on the part of Her Majesty's Government, it will not go beyond that which I stated on a former occasion—namely, that some ships of the Line and other vessels will be stationed on the coast of Syria, with a view to prevent the renewal or continuance of these massacres; and that the Admiral will be empowered, if he thinks it necessary, to land the Marines in Syria, but not to go beyond the coast. The papers to which the hon. Member has referred are now printed, and nearly ready to be produced. They are in fact only the narrative given by the different Consuls in Syria of what has lately taken place there. With respect to the Motion for papers of which the hon. Gentleman has given notice, if he will make the terms has of the Motion general and applicable to our other Consuls in Syria as well as the Consul General at Beyrout, I see no objection to its adoption.
§ Moved, That the House at its rising adjourn till Monday.