HC Deb 29 April 1867 vol 186 cc1705-6
MR. HORSMAN

I wish, Sir, to put a Question to the noble Lord the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs of which I have given him private notice. I wish to ask, Whether the noble Lord has any objection to inform the House what is the present state of the negotiations respecting Luxembourg; whether it is true that those negotiations nave resulted in an arrangement for a Conference in London; and, whether he is prepared to lay upon the table of the House Papers which will show the part the English Government have taken in this transaction?

LORD STANLEY

In reply, Sir, to the Question of the right hon. Gentleman, I have to state that I have reason to believe that the propositions made for a Conference—propositions which were not solely made by England, but by all the Powers neutral in this dispute—will be accepted by both France and Prussia. More than that, although it is too early to speak with absolute confidence on the matter, yet I have every reason to hope, and even to believe, that this question of Luxembourg, which for the last fortnight has disturbed all Europe, is in a fair way to be speedily and amicably arranged. I fear I have no right to state to the House any details as to the present state of the negotiations; because however willing I might be, and I am always willing to explain and to vindicate the course pursued by this Government, it is obvious that I have no right to disclose the proceedings of other Governments, which have been communicated to me more or less confidentially, without the consent of those Governments. I may, however, take this opportunity of contradicting a report which I find has been current that Her Majesty's Government has expressed decided views upon the merits of the question now in dispute between France and Prussia. No such opinion has been expressed. We certainly did express a very strong opinion in favour of settling this question by peaceable means. I may also say that from the first and throughout the language I have held to all parties concerned has been this—that if, unfortunately, matters took a different turn from that which they now seem likely to take, and if hostilities were to break out, the position of England in this quarrel would be one of strict and impartial neutrality.