§ MR. BERNAL OSBORNEsaid, he wished to ask the noble Lord, the Secre- 347 tary of State for Foreign Affairs, Whether there is any truth in the report that an Envoy has been appointed to the Lebanon? And if so, Whether the noble Lord will have any objection to communicate the instructions that are, or will be given, to him?
§ LORD JOHN RUSSELLstated, in reply, that some time ago a proposition was made that a Commission should be sent to Syria; that some Europeans should be attached to it; and that it should not consist solely, as in the case of the Commission sent to Bosnia and Bulgaria, of Turkish officials. It was the opinion of the Government and of our Ambassador at Paris, that it would add strength to that Commission, if some person were to go from this country. Accordingly he had been empowered by Her Majesty to request Lord Dufferin to proceed to Syria as one of that Commission. The instructions which he proposed to give to Lord Dufferin would he entirely of a general nature, and would be in substance identical, or nearly so, with those given to the other European Commissioners. The detailed instructions must, of course, emanate from Constantinople. He might add, that a communication was received from Admiral Martin on Saturday, stating that he was going to Beyrout with five sail of the line.
§ SIR JAMBS FERGUSSONsaid, he wished to know whether the intention of sending French or English troops to Lebanon has been abandoned for the present?
§ LORD JOHN RUSSELLsaid, the intention had not been abandoned. There would be a conference held to-day of the Ambassadors of the five Powers, together with the Representative of the Sultan at Paris, to consider what should be done. He would communicate the result to the House as soon as he received the necessary information from Paris.