HC Deb 22 July 1864 vol 176 cc1904-5
MR. GRANT DUFF

said, he wished to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Whether Her Majesty's Government has itself expressed, or allowed Her Majesty's Ambassador at Constantinople to express, either directly or indirectly, any approval of the recent coup d'état of Prince Couza, or of any arrangements into which he has entered with the Porte, in so far as these arrangements are contrary to the Convention of 1858; and whether, if there are any papers on the subject, he would object to lay them upon the table of the House?

MR. LAYARD

said, in reply, that neither the Government nor the British Ambassador at Constantinople had ex- pressed directly or indirectly approval of the course taken by Prince Couza. No doubt the change made by that Prince in arbitrary manner in the constitution and laws was opposed to the Convention of 1858; but Prince Couza had been invited to Constantinople, and arrangements had been entered into there with the Sublime Porte, carrying out to a certain extent the views of Prince Couza and other parties in the Principalities. The arrangement that had been come to overthrew what his hon. Friend called the coup d'état of Prince Couza, and terminated the serious complications which had in consequence arisen in the Principalities. Sir Henry Bulwer deserved great credit for the manner in which he had brought about this settlement, for it was mainly due to him, With regard to papers, he could not at present lay any on the table. There would require to be a new Convention, to which all would have to be parties who were parties to the old Convention, and when it was concluded he would lay that and other papers before the House.

MR. BAILLIE COCHRANE

said, he wished to know, Whether Sir Henry Bulwer has given no approval to the coup d'état?

MR. LAYARD

None whatever.

Afterwards—

MR. DARBY GRIFFITH

said, he would beg to ask, Whether it was to be understood that the arrangement to which the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs had alluded was entered into between Prince Couza and the Porte alone, I or whether it was referred to the other Powers?

MR. LAYARD

said, in reply, that the arrangement come to at Constantinople in regard to the Principalities received the sanction of all the parties who had to do with the Convention of Paris.