§ MR. CONINGHAMsaid, he would beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury, Whether the efforts which have been made hitherto by the British Nation for the suppression of the African Slave Trade might not with advantage be extended to the continent of America; and whether the time has not at length arrived when it becomes the duty of Her Majesty's Government to enter into friendly negotiations with the Federal Government 698 of the United States for the purpose of concerting measures for the gradual but total suppression of the Slave Trade in the Confederate States?
§ VISCOUNT PALMERSTONSir, my hon. Friend is doubtless aware that the Federal Government have concluded a Treaty with the Government of Her Majesty, giving a mutual right of search, for the purpose of suppressing the Slave Trade carried on under the Federal flag. The Confederate States have passed a law which renders the Slave Trade highly penal, but my hon. Friend must be aware that the Federal Government have no relations at present with the Confederate States—except the relations of war—which, of course, will not permit any intercourse with reference to a mutual arrangement such as that to which his Question points. I may add, that as Her Majesty's Government have not yet acknowledged the independence of the Confederate States, and that independence not being established in a way which would justify our interference, no diplomatic communications can take place between us and those States. If, however, in the course of time, things should alter, we should hope the Confederate States, if they should succeed in establishing their independence, would enter into arrangements on the subject of the Slave Trade similar to those which the Federal Government has concluded.
§ MR. CONINGHAMThe Question I asked was, whether Her Majesty's Government might not enter into communications with the Federal States for the suppression of the Slave Trade on the continent of America?
§ VISCOUNT PALMERSTONI thought I answered that Question when I stated that the Federal Government have no relations at present with the Confederate States, save relations of war—a fact which, of course, would render useless any action such as that to which my hon. Friend refers.