§ COLONEL SYKESsaid, as the noble Lord at the head of the Foreign office would be unable to speak a second time he would at once ask the question of which he had given notice:—Whether there is any foundation for the statements in the newspapers by the last China Mail, that the departure of the British Troops from China, consisting of 8,403 men of all arms, has been postponed for an indefinite period: whether the report in the China Mail newspaper be true that, on the 30th day of April, a body of 200 armed men from the villages of Swa, Boey, and Outenz, in the neighbourhood of Swatow, marched through the streets of Swatow, at three o'clock in the day, into the hong of Messre. Bradley and Co., and plundered the same, the Tartar authorities not interfering, and refusing a guard to protect Messrs. Bradley from further outrage: whether information has been received that deserters from Her Majesty's Navy, and Europeans of different nations, to the amount of 200, were known to have enlisted in the Tartar service, twenty-four of whom were seized in Imperialist boats in a creak of the Yang-tze-kiang while carousing, eleven of whom, not being English or Americans, were liberated, and the rest handed over to their respective Consuls: and, whether the Secretary of State purposes to direct steps being taken to prevent British subjects enlisting in the Tartar service or that of the Taepings?
§ LORD JOHN RUSSELLI am sorry I was unable to be here at a quarter so four. As I was coming down to the House a foreign Minister called upon me, and I was, therefore, somewhat delayed. But the hon. Member is quite in order in asking his question. The hon. Baronet will recollect that on a former occasion I stated the 305 Spanish Government had been informed that the Moorish Government absolutely refused to carry into effect the treaty that had been signed between the Emperor of Morocco and the Queen of Spain—that thereupon the Spanish Government made preparations to enforce the provisions of the treaty. Upon inquiries being made at Tangier we were informed that the Moorish Government wished to comply with the stipulations of the treaty, but were unable to perform their promise at the exact period named in the treaty. Upon that the good offices of Her Majesty's Government were offered to and accepted by the Spanish Government. Since that time we have been told by the Spanish Government that they had received official communications to the effect that it is not the intention of the Moorish Government to comply with the stipulations of the treaty; and the head of the Spanish Cabinet, Marshal O'Donnell, said that in that case there were but two courses to pursue—one was to renew the war, and the other was to declare Tetuan to be perpetually annexed to the Spanish Crown, and that they had taken the latter course. It seems, however, that the Spanish Government are ready to receive any overtures, and, therefore, I do not think that the statement referred to by the hon. Baronet could be considered as representing the definitive determination of the Spanish Government. With respect to the quotation made by the hon. Member from my speech, I have to remind the hon. Member that that has no reference to Tetuan. Tangiers is opposite to Gibraltar, but not Tetuan. [Sir ROBERT PKEL: It is only a few miles from Tangiers.] But it is not upon the coast. However, we are not without hopes that affairs between the countries may yet be amicably arranged.
With regard to the questions of the hon. Member for Aberdeen (Colonel Sykes), I can only answer for the Foreign Office, and the Foreign Office has not received any information respecting the circumstances to which the hon. Member has alluded. I am sorry to add, what my hon. Friend will perhaps be glad to hear, that the rebel forces have appeared much nearer to Pekin than they have hitherto approached.
§ MR. DARBY GRIFFITHremarked that the noble Lord had stated that Tangiers was opposite Gibraltar, and Tetuan not so. Now, Tetuan was immediately south of Gibraltar, and opposite to it.
306 Tetuan was much nearer Gibraltar than Tangiers was. Tangiers was further up the Straits.
§ LORD JOHN RUSSELLsaid, the hon. Member must be mistaken about the position of Tetuan. He (Lord John Russell) had spent several days shooting in the neighbourood, and was, therefore, well acquainted with the locality.
§ MR. DARBY GRIFFITHsaid, he also had spent some days in the same position himself.
§ SIR ROBERT PEELsaid, he wished to know if Mr. Drummond Hay had returned from Mogador.
§ LORD JOHN RUSSELLstated that Mr. Drummond Hay, who was to go to the Court of the Sultan of Morocco, had not yet gone, his departure being delayed for two days.