§ MR. AYRTONsaid, he would beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury a Question respecting the territorial guarantee contained in the Treaty of Vienna. He wished to know, Whether any representations have been made on the part of this country to Prussia to the effect, that if Prussia insists upon departing from the Treaty which settled the limits and conditions of the Germanic Confederation, the British Government will not hold itself further bound by that guarantee?
§ VISCOUNT PALMERSTONNo communication has been made of that nature 1624 to the Prussian Government, and I do not think it would be expedient to follow the example of Prussia. That country having in the beginning of the Danish difficulties declared that she might repudiate the Treaty of 1852, in consequence of Denmark not having fulfilled some of her obligations which were totally independent of that treaty, we should have no right to tell Prussia that we are absolved from the Treaty of Vienna on account of another transaction taking place in 1863 or 1864.