§ MR. FREELANDasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Whether the ratifications of a Commercial Treaty between England and Turkey had been exchanged, and, if so, when a copy of the Treaty would be laid upon the table of the House; and whether any correspondence had taken place between the Governments of England and France relating to the conclusion of a similar Commercial Treaty between France and Turkey; and, if so, whether there would be any objection to lay copies of that correspondence and of the correspondence between the English and Turkish Governments on the subject of either Treaty on the table of the House?
§ LORD JOHN RUSSELLsaid, that the treaty in question had not yet been finally concluded, but when it had been ratified, as was expected to be the case soon, it 1856 would be laid upon the Table. With respect to the second part of the hon. Member's question, he had to say that the French Government had informed him some time ago, through their Ambassador, that they agreed in the general principles of the Treaty between England and Turkey, and Her Majesty's Government afterwards communicated to the Government of France some amendments which they proposed in it. There had, however, been no regular correspondence between the Governments of England and France relative to the conclusion of a similar treaty between the latter Power and Turkey.