MR. J. B. SMITHsaid, he wished to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Whether the Communications made by the American Minister, Mr. Burlinghame, at Pekin, in a Despatch to Mr. Seward, the Secretary of State at Washington, and dated the 20th June, 1863, respecting the joint policy to be pursued in China by the Ministers of England, Russia, France, and America, is substantially in accord with a Despatch addressed to Earl Russell, and a Copy of which Sir Frederick Bruce gave to the American Minister; and, whether a Reply has been given to Sir F. Bruce's Despatch, and in what sense?
§ MR. LAYARDsaid, in reply, that he had to state that considerable misapprehension appeared to exist with regard to what had been called the suppressed Despatch, and which the hon. Member for Montrose (Mr. Baxter) seemed to think was an agreement or memorandum signed by the representatives of the several Powers mentioned in the Question. He was not exactly aware to which Despatch Mr. Burlinghame alluded, as the date of the Despatch was not given, and neither had Sir Frederick Bruce informed the Government that he had ever communicated such a Despatch to Mr. Burlinghame. But a Despatch, which seemed by its date to be the one in question, had been received at the Foreign Office, and the only objection to laying that Despatch upon the table was that it contained matter relating to other Powers which it would not be for the public convenience to publish. If, however, the hon. Gentleman would allow him to give extracts from the Despatch, he would be prepared to supply him with all the information which he could desire to obtain. He (Mr. Layard) had himself quoted a paragraph from Mr. Burlinghame's Despatch, for the purpose of showing the policy which Her Majesty's Government had pursued and intended to continue to pursue in China, was in accordance with that advocated by the United States and other Powers. With regard to Sir Frederick Bruce, Her Majesty's Government had always felt the most complete confidence in 636 him; and as there was no difference between the Government and Sir Frederick Bruce in respect of the principles laid down in the Despatch to which reference was made in the latter portion of the Question of the hon. Member, it did not require an answer.