OBSERVATIONS. (Hansard, 9 August 1877)

§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER
I wish to make an appeal to my hon. Friend the Member for West Norfolk (Mr. Bentinck), who has given Notice of his intention upon the Second Reading of the Appropriation Bill to call attention to the state of affairs under which Parliament was about to be prorogued, with special reference to the Note addressed by the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs to the Russian Ambassador on the 6th of May last. We all feel the natural interest which the House must take in the discussion of foreign affairs; but I wish to say on the part of the Government that it would be in their opinion disadvantageous to the public interests that there should be any general discussion of the subject at the present moment. I hope, therefore, that under these circumstances my hon. Friend will be good enough not to proceed with the discussion.

§ MR. BENTINCK
Sir, in answer to the appeal made by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, I can only say that, looking at the present state of affairs, I have listened to that appeal with much regret. I can assure the House I did not put down the Notice which stands in my name on light grounds, and, moreover, I had the support of many hon. Gentlemen whose opinions I highly value. But looking to the fact that the Cabinet must be in possession of information that is not possessed by the House, and looking also to the fact that the Government must be held responsible for its conduct of the affairs of the country, I feel that after the appeal 681 which my right hon. Friend has just made to me, I should not be justified in persevering in the Motion which stands in my name. I beg, therefore, to announce that it is not my intention to proceed with it, and beg leave to withdraw it.

§ MR. WHALLEY
also begged leave to express his regret that the subject was not to be brought forward. ["Order!"]

§ MR. SPEAKER
There is no Question before the House.

§ MR. WHALLEY
I will put myself in Order by moving the Adjournment of the House.

§ MR. SPEAKER
A Question has been put and answered. If any hon. Member has any Question to ask, this is the proper time for putting Questions.

§ MR. FAWCETT
I should like to ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, as he has made an appeal to the hon. Member for West Norfolk not to raise a discussion on Foreign Affairs, Whether there is any truth in the rumour which has been widely circulated and has appeared in the public journals, that there is going to be a discussion on Foreign Affairs this evening in "another place; " because, if there is any truth in that rumour, it is obvious that if it is right to have a discussion in " another place " it cannot be inconvenient to discuss the matter here?

§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER
I believe I may say that an intimation was given of the intention of a noble Lord to raise this question in the other House, but that an appeal had been made to the noble Lord on the part of the Government very much in the same terms as those which I have addressed to my hon. Friend, and it is not I understand the intention of the noble Lord to proceed with the Motion, and so far as I am aware there will be no discussion upon the subject in the other House.

§ MR. WHALLEY
, amid cries of "Oh, oh!" said: Sir, I desire to put a question to Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, which I think is justified by the appeal he has just made. [Cries of "Order!"] If necessary, I will put myself in Order by moving the Adjournment of the House. ["Oh, oh!"] It will be in the recollection of this House that on frequent occasions I have addressed Questions to the right hon. Gentleman 682 with reference to this Circular of Lord Derby's, and generally with reference to the conduct of the Government in connection with the war. The Emperor of Russia has been distinctly charged with various things, and there seems to be relations of hostility between Her Majesty's Government and the Emperor of Russia. The Question I wish to put to the right hon. Gentleman is, whether there is any other Power except that of the Papacy that has directly or indirectly expressed concurrence with Her Majesty's Government in their sentiments, I may say, of personal hostility to the Emperor of Russia? [Loud cries of "Order!"]

§ MR. SPEAKER
The question which the hon. Member has now raised relates to a matter upon which he has twice put similar Questions in this House, and has received Answers. Upon a third occasion, when he desired to put a Question to the same effect, I ruled that the hon. Member was out of Order in so doing. He is now repeating his breach of Order by endeavouring to raise that question before the House.

§ MR. WHALLEY
Then I will not put the Question; but I will, if I am permitted to do so, take this opportunity of making a statement with regard to this hostility—a kind of personal hostility—on the part of the Government towards the Emperor of Russia. [Cries of "Order!"]

§ MR. SPEAKER
I am very unwilling but am compelled to exercise my duty as the guardian of the Rules and Orders of this House, by calling the hon. Member to Order a second time, and to pronounce him as having again disregarded the authority of the Chair.

§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER
Do I understand, Sir, that you pronounce the hon. Member as disregarding the authority of the Chair.

§ MR. SPEAKER
Yes.

§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER
I apprehend, Sir, that under the new Rule, that when a Member has been pronounced by you to be disregarding the authority of the Chair, it is necessary that the debate should be at once suspended, and that Motion should be made in the House that the Member be not heard during the remainder of the debate. The debate is now suspended, I presume, and in that case I beg to make that Motion.

§ MR. SPEAKER
The Question is, that Mr. Whalley be not now heard.

§ MR. WHALLEY
Mr. Speaker [Cries of " Order! "], I rise to make a personal explanation. ["Order! "]

§ MR. SPEAKER
The Clerk will now proceed to read the Orders of the Day.