HC Deb 04 March 1861 vol 161 cc1308-9
MR. WARNER

said, he would beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury, Whe- ther it is true that a considerable Naval I Force has been directed to proceed to the Japanese waters, and whether precautions have been adopted to prevent any Consul or other Civil authority from commencing a war with Japan without instructions from the Government.

VISCOUNT PALMERSTON

I believe that part of the squadron in the Chinese Seas will visit Japan, not with any he stile or warlike purpose, but for the purpose of giving that moral support to British authority which is so desirable.