HC Deb 02 July 1863 vol 172 cc64-5
MR. HORSMAN

said, he wished to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, On what day the English and French Notes were received at St. Petersburg; on what day the Austrian Note was received; on what day the several Notes were presented to the Russian Minister; and whether the British Amassador was instructed to keep back the English Note till the Austrian Note arrived?

MR. LAYARD

said, in reply to the several Questions of his right hon. Friend, he had to state that the English note left London on the 17th of June. The Austrian Note left Vienna on the 18th of June. The three Notes arrived at St. Petersburg on the evening of the same day—namely, the 21st. A meeting of the Representatives of the three Powers was called to agree as to the course to be taken. That meeting took place on the 23rd, and a request was forwarded to the Russian Minister for Foreign Affairs to appoint a day to receive the Notes. The day appointed by Prince Gortschak off was the 27th, and on that day the Representatives of England, France, and Austria waited on the Prince and delivered the Despatches which they had received from their respective Governments. Prince Gortschak off received those Despatches, and said he would refer them to the Emperor for an answer. No instructions had been given to the British Ambassador to wait for the arrival of the Austrian Note, but he was instructed to come to an understanding with the French and Austrian Ambassadors as to the day and mode in which those Despatches should be presented.

MR. HORSMAN

said, he would be glad to know whether any further communication has been received from St. Petersburg since those Notes were delivered on the 27th, and whether the hon. Gentleman can give the House any intimation as to the probable period when the answer of the Russian Government will be received.

MR. LAYARD

said, that no answer had yet been received from St. Petersburg, and that he could not inform the right hon. Gentleman on what day the answer was likely to arrive. As soon as it was received, he would immediately lay it on the table.