HC Deb 23 June 1864 vol 176 cc162-3
MR. DISRAELI

Sir, I would take this opportunity of asking the noble Viscount the First Minister of the Crown, Whether he has any communication to make to the House with respect to the proceedings of the Conference yesterday?

VISCOUNT PALMERSTON

Sir, the Question of the right hon. Gentleman is a very natural one, and I am quite aware that not only the anxiety of the House, but that of the public at large, upon the subject to which it relates, is entitled to some communication from Her Majesty's Government. The Conference met yesterday, in the afternoon, after the Levee, and it adjourned to Saturday, when it will meet at an earlier hour. The probability is that that meeting of Saturday will be the last and final meeting of the Conference; and it will be my duty on Monday to lay upon the table of this House all the papers connected with the proceedings of the Conference—I hope including the proceedings that may take place on Saturday. I shall also feel it my duty, and my noble Friend in the other House will also feel it to be his duty in his place, not only to lay the papers on the table of the House, but to make a statement connected with the transactions to which the papers relate.

MR. HUNT

Sir, I should like to ask the noble Lord, whether the Conference will meet on Saturday to deliberate, or simply to go through some formulary? I think this House is entitled to know whether the Conference has closed its deliberations or not, and whether it meets on Saturday to go through some matter of form?

VISCOUNT PALMERSTON

I stated my opinion that the meeting on Saturday will be the final meeting. It is impossible for me to say what will take place at a meeting not yet assembled. I say that on Monday I shall lay on the table a Report of all the proceedings of the Conferences, accompanied, I hope, by the proceedings of Saturday.

MR. DISRAELI

I conclude from what the noble Lord says, that the documents he proposes to lay upon the table will be in the hands of Members on Tuesday.

VISCOUNT PALMERSTON

They will be laid on the table on Monday, and I presume they will be distributed with the papers on the following morning.