HC Deb 10 March 1871 vol 204 cc1769-70
MR. OTWAY

asked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, with reference to the statement made to the French Ambassador on the 25th ultimo, Whether Lord Augustus Loftus was directed to tender the good offices of Her Majesty's Government in a Despatch which he did not, and could not, receive until the 27th ultimo, the armistice terminating on the 26th ultimo; why the instructions in the Despatch were not conveyed to Her Majesty's Ambassador by cyphered Telegram on the 24th ultimo; whether Mr. Odo Russell, to whom a Copy of the Despatch alluded to was communicated by Telegram on the 24th ultimo while with Count Bismarck at Versailles, was also instructed to tender to him the good offices of Her Majesty's Government; and, what Reply has been given to Her Majesty's Government as to their proffer of good offices?

VISCOUNT ENFIELD

Sir, it was only on the 24th of February that the Government were made acquainted with the wishes of the French Government. A despatch on that day was addressed to Lord Augustus Loftus, at Berlin, and was communicated to Count Bernstorff in London, with the request that he would immediately telegraph the substance of it to Count Bismarck. The Government had reason to believe that Count Bismarck received the proffer of their good offices on the morning of the 25th, but they have as yet received no official reply on the subject. On the evening of the 24th the substance of the despatch was telegraphed to Mr. Odo Russell, in order that he might be made fully acquainted with the steps which the Government had thought fit to adopt. It appears from the despatch of Mr. Odo Russell, that he did not receive that telegram till 11 o'clock on the evening of the 25th. The Government considered that in requesting Count Bernstorff to telegraph the substance of the despatch direct to Count Bismarck they took the most direct and expeditious means of bringing themselves into communication with him; and I think that my hon. Friend will agree with me that it was a much more direct mode of proceeding than if we had telegraphed to Lord Augustus Loftus, asking him to ask the Prussian Foreign Minister to telegraph to Count Bismarck.

MR. OTWAY

My noble Friend has not answered the Question to which I attach most importance — whether instructions to tender the good offices of England were sent to Mr. Odo Russell, who was on a special mission to Count Bismarck?

VISCOUNT ENFIELD

The telegram which was sent to Mr. Odo Russell on the evening of the 24th embodied the substance of the despatch which had been sent to Lord Augustus Loftus, and it was left to Mr. Odo Russell to use his discretion in the matter.

MR. OTWAY

Then no instructions were sent?

VISCOUNT ENFIELD

I am not able to say that any direct instructions were sent; but the substance of the despatch was communicated by telegraph.