HC Deb 12 February 1877 vol 232 cc180-1
MR. W. E. FORSTER

I wish to put to the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs a Question, of which I have given him private Notice, relating to the Blue Books on the Eastern Question. In the second of the Blue Books, under date January the 2nd of this year, Lord Derby wrote a despatch to Lord Lyons, in which it is stated— I told the French Ambassador so long ago as last summer that I had warned Musurus Pasha that the Porte must not expect material assistance from England in the event of a Russian War. I do not think any such despatch is to be found amongst the Papers of last year; and I wish to ask whether that document is amongst the despatches, and, if so, whether Her Majesty's Government have any objection to produce it? If there be such a despatch—and I imagine there is, for it was publicly stated by Lord Derby last Thursday that some such despatch had been written—I do not doubt that the Government will think it right to explain why it is not included in the despatches given last year, being of a very important nature, and being also, I may add, of a nature which must have somewhat surprised every unofficial Member of this House.

MR. BOURKE

In reply to the right hon. Gentleman, I may say that the despatch would naturally have been in the Blue Book presented last year, unless it appeared to the Secretary of State that at that time it was inexpedient to produce it. At present the circumstances were changed, and Her Majesty's Government would be happy to produce it when called for by the right hon. Gentleman. Whether it will be necessary for me to state any reason why it was not produced last year I am not sure; but I think hon. Members, on reading that despatch, will see that there was very good reason for not producing it last year.

MR. W. E. FORSTER

Will it be necessary that I should move for its production?

MR. BOURKE

I will lay it on the Table.