§ SIR GEORGE BOWYERsaid, he would beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury, What information Her Majesty's Government have received respecting the occupation of Mexico by France, and the intentions of the French Government regarding Mexico?
§ VISCOUNT PALMERSTONSir, by the latest accounts which we have received from Sir Charles Wyke, our Minister in Mexico, who was then at Orizaba, it appears that there was an intention to advance a French corps to the city of Mexico. As to what the intentions of the French Government may be, I can only refer the hon. and learned Baronet to the Convention of October last, recording the intentions of the three Powers for common action in Mexico, and it is not, of course, for a Minister of the British Crown to speak one way or other as to the intentions of any Foreign Government. It may be satisfactory, however, that I should add that, from a Despatch from Sir Charles Wyke, dated the 13th of last month, it appears that he expected on the 17th to have an interview with Senor Doblado, the Mexican Minister of Foreign Affairs, to conclude a Convention for the satisfaction of British claims. My noble Friend at the head of the Foreign Department states that he is quite prepared to lay before Parliament the Papers connected with the transactions in Mexico. That being the case, perhaps the hon. Gentleman who has given notice of the Motion for Tuesday will think it proper to defer that Motion until he has seen the Papers.
§ MR. SEYMOUR FITZGERALDMay we expect to have the Papers shortly?
§ VISCOUNT PALMERSTONYes.