§ MR. OSBORNEI wish, Sir, to ask a Question of the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, suggested by the extraordinary nature of the last Despatch written by the noble Lord to the Spanish Government. The Question I wish to put is, Whether the noble Lord will give the House any account or assurance of the state of our relations at this moment with the Spanish Government?
LORD STANLEYAll the correspondence that has passed between the Spanish Government and that of Her Majesty is in the hands of the House.
§ MR. OSBORNEHas no answer been returned? ["Order!"] I wish to put this Question distinctly, and to have an answer without fencing. ["Oh!"] Yes. It is very important. I speak with reference to the last despatch of the noble Lord, in which a distinct threat is held out to the Spanish Government. I wish to know if the noble Lord has received any answer to that threat?
LORD STANLEYI must remind the hon. Gentleman that if he expects from me a definite answer, he must first put a distinct Question. He has now done so, but certainly he did not in the first instance. My difficulty in replying to him was this:—We have at this moment two questions pending with the Spanish Government, one relating to the Tornado, and another relating to the Victoria. I presume the hon. Gentleman refers to the latter. Then, with regard to that case, I can say nothing more than what I have stated—that the whole Correspondence, as far as it has gone, is in the hands of the House. I have not yet received any answer to the last despatch which concludes the papers.