§ MR. GOLDNEY, in the absence of his hon. Friend (Mr. Bentinck) said, he would beg to ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Whether any fresh understanding has been recently come to between France and Austria for the maintenance of the Ottoman Empire; and, whether Her Majesty's Government has been invited by Baron de Beust to take any, and what, action on the subject?
LORD STANLEYI am not aware, Sir, of any understanding of the kind having been come to between the French and the Austrian Governments. It is true that some suggestions were recently made to Her Majesty's Government by Baron de Beust as to the advice which should be given to the Porte, and those suggestions have been listened to with the respect due to any advice coming from that quarter, but no action has been, at present taken on the subject.