MR. HENNBSSYsaid, he would beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, Whether, after the state of siege had been proclaimed in Poland, the Russian Government applied to Her Majesty's Government for the services of two English Detectives for the instruction of the Russian police in Poland; and whether, in compliance with that application, Her Majesty's Government sent Superintendent Walker and Inspector Whicher, of the A division to Warsaw, during the months of August and September, 1862?
§ SIR GEORGE GREYSir, in answer to the first Question of the hon. Gentleman I have to state that neither immediately after the state of siege had been proclaimed in Poland nor at any other time did the Russian Government apply to Her Majesty's Government for the services of English detectives for the instruction of the Russian Police in Poland. But that is not the answer which I wish to give to the hon. Gentleman, for it would not be a fair and complete one. I have to state, in answer to the second Question, that two officers, the Superintendent and Inspector named, did go to Warsaw in the month of August last under the circumstances and for the purpose which I will briefly state; and when I have made the statement, perhaps the hon. Gentleman will be satisfied that they did not go for the purpose which is rather implied than expressed in the terms of his Question. I may be allowed first to state that I have found few things Lave attracted the attention of intelligent foreigners in this country more than the maintenance of public order, and the protection of life and property, by means of a police force exclusively civil, unarmed, and acting on all ordinary occasions without any assistance from a military force—each member of the police force acting under regulations authorized by law, and being amenable to the culinary tribunals of the country for any excess of authority or any violation of the law which he may commit. The feeling of surprise which has been excited among foreigners by the observation of these facts has led from time to time to applications from the representatives of foreign Governments for full information as to the organization of the police, the principles upon which it is established, and the details of its management. That information has in all cases been freely given, and 1226 without reserve, as we have no secrets in our police system, the object of the applicants being, as was understood, the improvement of the police in foreign countries by their assimilation, as far as circumstances will admit, of their system to our own. In the month of July last I received a private letter from the Russian Ambassador, in which he informed me that the Grand Duke Constantine had, during more than one visit to England, been particularly struck with the admirable results of our police system, and with its character and management so far as he was able to form an opinion. He further stated that the Grand Duke, having been recently charged with the administration of the affairs of Poland, was desirous to effect a reform in that branch of the public service in Poland by placing it as nearly as possible on the system of the English police, with a view at the earliest period practicable of putting an end to martial law which was then in force in Poland. For that purpose the Ambassador therefore requested that, not a detective, but an intelligent officer of the metropolitan police might he put into personal communication with the local authorities at Warsaw, with a view of giving the fullest information as to the organization of the English police, in order that, if possible, the desire of the Grand Duke Constantine might be carried into effect. I thought that desire of the Grand Duke was honourable to him; and if it could have been accomplished, it would have conferred one of the greatest boons on the people of Poland. With that feeling, I informed the Chief Commissioner of Police of the contents of the letter I had received from the Russian Ambassador; and, with my sanction, he complied with the request by sending these officers to Warsaw for the single purpose of communicating to the local authorities there that information which had been repeatedly given to every Government that had applied for it. The Commissioner, acting in accordance with a general rule, thought it desirable that instead of one officer two should go. They went, taking with them the forms of proceeding and the regulations for the management of the police which exist here, which they communicated to the local authorities at Warsaw, with whom they were placed in communication. They gave such personal explanations on the subject as they were called upon to give. Having done that, their duty was performed, and they returned to England 1227 from Warsaw as soon as they were enabled, one of them having been seriously ill, to undertake the journey. I am only sorry to say that the object with which the information was sought and given was not attained, for the authorities of Warsaw came to the conclusion—unfortunately, I think — that however well adapted our police establishment might he to a country like England, the materials did not at present exist for applying it to Poland.
§ MR. AYRTON— The right hon. Baronet has not stated whether this was done before or after the knowledge came to the Government of the breaking-out of the insurrection in Poland.
§ SIR GEORGE GREY—It certainly was long before the recent events occurred. The letter was dated in July, and the officers went on the 6th of August.
§ MR. HENNESSYsaid, he wished to know whether the right hon. Gentleman will lay upon the table of the House a copy of the letter from the Russian Ambassador making the application? He would also ask the Under Secretary for Foreign Affairs whether Her Majesty's Government will lay upon the table two Despatches received from the Consul General at Warsaw describing the atrocities which have been committed by the Russians?
§ SIR GEORGE GREYThe letter from the Russian Ambassador was marked confidential, and, without his permission, I could not lay it on the table. I have no knowledge of the Despatches referred to.
§ SIR HARRY VERNEYsaid, he wished to ask whether the instructions given to the police would be produced.
§ SIR GEORGE GREYThere were no written instructions given to the police. The object for which they wore sent was clearly defined and understood, and I have no doubt they performed their duty strictly within their instructions.