HC Deb 04 April 1864 vol 174 cc395-6
MR. BERNAL OSBORNE

I wish, Sir, to put three Questions to the noble Lord at the head of the Government, of which I have given him notice. The first is, Whether all the Powers who were parties to the Treaty of London of 1852 have consented to attend the Danish Conference; the second is, whether the German Confederation have consented to send representatives to that Congress, and if any basis has been settled for this Conference to discuss; and the third is, whether an Armistice has been agreed upon?

VISCOUNT PALMERSTON

All the parties who signed and concluded the Treaty of 1852 have consented to send representatives to the Conference. No answer has yet been received from the German Diet, who have been invited to send a representative. The basis proposed for the Conference to start from is an endeavour to restore peace to the North of Europe. We have not thought it desirable, upon the plea of establishing a basis, to endeavour to settle beforehand those subjects which can more properly be the subjects of consideration when the Conference shall be assembled.

MR. BERNAL OSBORNE

As to the armistice?

VISCOUNT PALMERSTON

No armistice has yet been agreed to.