§ MR. BOUVERIEasked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Whether the Despatch of Mr. Odo Russell, dated February 27th, Versailles, and presented to Parliament by command of Her Majesty, was written in reply to any Despatch or communication from Her Majesty's Government; and, if so, whether such last-mentioned Despatch or communication can be also given?
§ VISCOUNT ENFIELDSir, Mr. Odo Russell's despatch, to which my right hon. Friend alludes, was not written in reply to any despatch or communication from the Foreign Office; but after what had passed on the subject, and the comments made on the language he had held to Count Bismarck, Mr. Russell felt it his duty to explain those motives to his official superiors, within whose discretion it then rested to publish the explanation in the same manner as the original conversation had been made known—namely, by presenting to Parliament the despatch containing it.