MR. GLADSTONEasked Her Majesty's Government, Who are the "important personages" with respect to whom Sir Henry Elliot states in his Despatch of December 18th 1876, that they have made a "declaration that the Turks must be driven out of Europe;" and, whether Her Majesty's Government will lay upon the Table the Telegram referred to in the foot-note of Paper I. 105, as containing the substance of the Despatch of September 5th?
§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUERWith regard to the second part of the Question put by my right hon. Friend, there will be no objection to lay the telegram on the Table. I may take this opportunity of correcting a misprint in the date of the telegram. It is stated as the 22nd of August. It should be the 29th. With respect to the first part of the Question, I am not aware who are the particular persons whom Sir Henry Elliot had in his mind; but I am aware that there was a very widely-spread impression in this country that my right 582 hon. Friend himself had recommended a policy something of that character. At all events, such an impression prevailed in this country; and I think it is very probable that it prevailed also in Constantinople. But whether that was what Sir Henry Elliot had in his mind when he wrote that despatch I am not informed.
MR. GLADSTONEWill there be any objection on the part of the Government—I do not think it is an unreasonable request—to inquire of Sir Henry Elliot who the persons referred to were?
§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUERI have no objection, and I presume there would not be. I tried myself to see Sir Henry Elliot, but he was out of town.