§ MR. MACEVOYsaid, he wished to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Whether it is true that the Danish Government have officially claimed the active assistance of England on the ground of the London Protocol; and whether the Government are aware that a similar application has been addressed to the French Government, with an intimation in each case that, if refused, the Danish Government would avail themselves of the assistance alleged to have been offered by the Government of the King of Italy?
§ MR. LAYARDreplied, that he was not exactly aware what the hon. Gentleman meant by the London Protocol. If he referred to the Treaty of London, there was no ground under that treaty for calling on Her Majesty's Government to give their active assistance to Denmark during the present dispute. If, however, the hon. Gentleman referred to the Guarantee of 1720, Her Majesty's Government were of opinion that the case anticipated has not arisen under that guarantee. He would take this opportunity of mentioning the state of the Danish Papers. The first instalment had been delivered to some hon. Members that morning. He had laid on the table that evening additional papers, which did not strictly form part of the series, but which were so important that the House ought to see them. An additional batch would be delivered either on Saturday or Monday morning, and on Monday night, or Tuesday at furthest, the remain- 1071 der would be in the hands of hon. Members. He could assure the House that not ft moment's delay had taken place in the publication of these papers.
§ MR. MACEVOYsaid, the hon. Gentleman had not answered the latter part of his questions.
§ MR. LAYARD, in reply, said, he believed that an application had been made to the French Government; but the case under the guarantee not having arisen, that Government had not felt itself called upon to give an opinion. With regard to the question about the Government of Italy, he could not give the hon. Gentleman any answer, not having any information on the subject.