HC Deb 15 February 1864 vol 173 cc565-6
MR. DISRAELI

Sir, in the total absence of papers with respect to our foreign relations, I am obliged to trouble Her Majesty's Government with more questions than I could have wished. I understood on Friday night from the noble Lord the First Minister of the Crown, that Her Majesty's Government had made a proposition for an Armistice between the two contending parties. It would be convenient to the House to know whether Her Majesty's Government have received any answer to that proposition, especially as from the tone of the noble Lord we concluded that it was made under very favourable circumstances?

MR. LAYARD

Sir, in the absence of the noble Lord at the head of the Government, perhaps I may be allowed to state that an answer has been received by Her Majesty's Government; but I regret to have to state to the House, that that answer is not of a satisfactory nature. No Armistice, I apprehend, is likely to be agreed to at the present time.