THE MARQUESS OF HARTINGTONI wish, Sir, to put a Question to the right hon. Gentleman the First Lord of the Treasury in reference to the recent negotiations in Turkish Affairs, of which I have given the right hon. Gentleman private Notice; and perhaps the House would allow me in explanation of the Question to say a very few words. It will, no doubt, be in the recollection of the House that before the Whitsun holidays it was stated in this and in the other House of Parliament that the Note known as the Berlin Memorandum had not been presented to the Turkish Government, and that there was reason to suppose it would not be presented. I understand that up to the present time that Note has not been presented, and it may perhaps not be unreasonable now to presume that there exists no intention on the part of the three Powers to present it. I believe that in "another place" the Earl of Derby stated that the proposals of those Powers not having been formally communicated to the Porte the document in question could not be considered as a public document, and that he would therefore be unable to lay it upon the Table of the House. Now, I should like to ask the right hon. Gentleman whether, now that this chapter in the negotiations is apparently con- 1606 cluded, that is still the opinion of Her Majesty's Government; or whether they are of opinion that the time has now arrived when it would be in their power, and might not be inopportune, to lay upon the Table some Papers and afford the House some opportunity of forming an opinion as to the course which has hitherto been pursued by the Government with regard to these negotiations. I do not forget that on a former occasion the right hon. Gentleman stated that the position of affairs was critical, and I am sure that I have no desire to press the Government for any explanations which might cause them any embarrassment in the present condition of affairs; but, at the same time, it seems to me that Her Majesty's Government might be willing, and possibly anxious, to afford to the House some opportunity of becoming aware of the course which they have hitherto pursued, and of giving them some explanation as to their policy and as to the state of our relations upon this subject with the other Powers of Europe. I do not believe there exists in the country any distrust of the proceedings of Her Majesty's Government; but, at the same time, I think we must feel that, at a moment when it has been considered necessary by Her Majesty's Government to make a considerable demonstration of the naval power of this country in support of the policy of the Government, we are in a state of somewhat unusual uncertainty, not only as to the details, but also as to the main scope and aim of the policy which is being pursued by Her Majesty's Government. With these few words of explanation, therefore, I wish to put the Question to Her Majesty's Government, Whether it is their intention to lay upon the Table of the House any Papers in relation to the recent negotiations on Turkish affairs?
§ MR. DISRAELIMr. Speaker, I think it is quite natural that the noble Lord should have made this inquiry of Her Majesty's Government, and that it is one which is perfectly consistent with his duty as Leader of the Opposition. I can assure him that as far as Her Majesty's Government are concerned, they have no wish to exercise any unnecessary reserve towards the House, nor are there any documents which they have sanctioned that they would object to place upon the Table of the House. But there 1607 are interests superior even to the natural and justifiable curiosity of Parliament, and even to the feelings of a Ministry; and when those interests take the form of the maintenance of peace—the maintenance of honourable peace—I am sure the House will not unnecessarily press the Government on the matter. At the same time, I am perfectly ready to give such information as I can to the noble Lord. It is very true that when I last addressed the House in reference to the Berlin Memorandum, I informed the House that that Memorandum had not been presented to the Porte, and I expressed a hope that it might not be presented. I believe I am quite authorized in now saying that the Berlin Memorandum has been withdrawn. It has been notified to us that its consideration is adjourned sine die. No doubt the remarkable events which have occurred at Constantinople would in a great measure account for that withdrawal, because already the Porte—although that Note has not been presented—has made suggestions which have anticipated more than one important point expressed in the Memorandum. And I think that when I refer to the fact that the Porte itself has spontaneously offered an armistice, that alone might be a sufficient reason for a considerable pause in the presentation of that document, even if that which I look upon as a more satisfactory result than the postponement of its presentation had not occurred. At the same time, I wish to remark that although we felt it to be our duty not to give our sanction to that diplomatic instrument, that notification on the part of Her Majesty's Government was received in no unfriendly spirit by any of the Powers that we had to address. Quite the contrary. Great regret was expressed as to the course which we felt it our duty to take, and a lively desire was also expressed that we should reconsider our decision on a step which they believed to be important to the interests of Europe. At this moment I think I am justified in saying that there is more than one point on which Her Majesty's Government are acting with the other Great Powers, and acting, I hope, successfully. We have concurred entirely with the other Powers, or rather the other Powers may be said to have concurred entirely with us; but, at any rate, there is a complete understanding 1608 between us and the other Great Powers that there should no undue pressure put upon the new Sovereign of Turkey; that he and his counsellors should have time to mature their measures and the policy which they mean to pursue. Then, again—which I look upon as not of less importance—we have added our representations to those certainly of Austria and Russia, and I believe also of France, and I have little doubt that at this moment the representations of all the Great Powers are made to impress Servia with the importance of a temperate conduct on her part. I hope we have impressed those counsels of moderation on Servia not unsuccessfully. There is a third point on which all the Great Powers have agreed to act, if not simultaneously, yet unanimously—namely, as to the recognition of the new Sultan. In our opinion, it was a matter of great importance that that recognition should be accorded without waiting for those delays which, under the circumstances, the usual diplomatic etiquette must have produced, because on that immediate recognition the Ambassador of the Queen can exercise his privilege of personal audience and conference with the Sultan. I believe the credentials of Sir Henry Elliot have been received from Her Majesty, and will be despatched to him this evening. I may also mention, with regard to the recognition of the Sultan, that that recognition has not been confined merely to the Great Powers of Europe, but I may say there certainly has been a general feeling of adhesion from all sections, creeds, and races among the subjects of the Porte. I think it is very important that the heads of all the Christian communities have personally congratulated, or have requested permission personally to congratulate, the Sultan on his accession to the Throne, and to express their confidence in the policy which he will pursue. I do not, of course, wish to exaggerate the importance of such an incident, but I think it may have a beneficial influence over the insurgents, and will certainly not diminish but rather increase the effect of the counsels which I hope all the Great Powers of Europe are giving the insurgents to avail themselves of the opportunity which now seems to be offered of insuring the pacification of Europe. There is one other point on which I wish to remark. It is not my habit, and I hope 1609 it never will be, to trouble the House with anything which is personal to myself; but, as in the present case that personal reference is mixed up with high considerations of policy, therefore I trust the House will pardon it. I understand that there appeared in the journals of Vienna yesterday a letter bearing my signature, which commented freely upon the present political situation of Europe, dilated on the intentions and the policy of England, and spoke with unpardonable disrespect of a Great Power which is an ally of our Sovereign. I therefore only wish to take this the earliest and most public opportunity—inasmuch as that letter has been reproduced in some English journals—of announcing that the letter is a forgery.
THE MARQUESS OF HARTINGTONThe right hon. Gentleman not having definitely stated it, I wish to ask, whether the Government anticipate that they will be able to lay on the Table the Papers relating to the recent negotiations?
§ MR. DISRAELII was remiss, perhaps, upon the point, as I wished it to be inferred from my observations that I should imagine that eventually there would be no objection to lay on the Table, with hardly any omission, all the Papers relating to these transactions. But I think at this moment that, the Papers to which the noble Lord refers being necessarily of a controversial character, and it being our desire to maintain as much as possible a complete good understanding with the Powers which are virtually acting in concert, the appearance of those Papers should at least to delayed.