HC Deb 22 January 1878 vol 237 cc320-2
MR. CHILDERS

asked Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the Despatch from Lord Derby to Mr. Layard of the 25th December, 1877 (No. 7 of Papers, Turkey, No. 2, 1878), instructing him to bear in mind a communication made by him to the Sultan in July 1877, Whether there will be any objection to lay upon the table Papers on this subject; and, whether, when or soon before Her Majesty's Government thus "sounded" the Porte in July, 1877, as to "possible terms of peace," and promised that their good offices should be exerted to secure for Turkey the most favourable terms possible, any Communication had passed between Her Majesty's Government and the Neutral Powers of Russia as to the possible terms of peace on the side of Russia; and, if so, whether the views of the Powers and of Russia at that period will be communicated to Parliament?

THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER

Sir, with reference to the first part of the Question of the right hon. Gentleman, I have to state that the substance, and, indeed, the entire effect of the communication to Mr. Layard on the 28th of July, is given in the despatch which he has quoted. It contains, in fact, the whole of what passed, sent by telegraph. With respect to the second part, I have to state that certain communications did pass at the time indicated between Her Majesty's Government and other Powers, but they were of a confidential character, and, therefore, it is not possible to lay them before Parliament.

MR. CHILDERS

I do not know whether I should be right in asking whether one of the other Powers was Russia herself?

THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER

Yes. I may take this opportunity of referring to a matter to which I desire to call the attention of the House. Yesterday it may be in the recollection of hon. Members that the hon. Member for Swansea (Mr. Dillwyn) put a Question to me, of which he had not given me previous Notice, with regard to a statement which appeared in the newspapers with reference to a communication said to have been made by Her Majesty to the Emperor of Russia. I was not then prepared to answer such a Question put without Notice, but I will now state to the House exactly what occurred. It was this. Her Majesty, having received from the Sultan a direct personal appeal, sent by the advice of her Ministers the following telegram to the Emperor of Russia:— I have received a direct appeal from the Sultan which I cannot leave without an answer. Knowing that you are sincerely desirous of peace, I do not hesitate to communicate this fact to you, in the hope that you may accelerate the negotiations for the conclusion of an armistice which may lead to an honourable peace.

MR. HANBURY

I beg to ask the Under Secretary for Foreign Affairs a Question—of which I have given him private Notice—Whether the attention of the Foreign Office has been called to the telegrams in the morning papers announcing the advance of a strong Russian force upon Gallipoli, and whether any confirmation of this new9 has been received at the Foreign Office.

MR. BOURKE

My hon. Friend has been kind enough to send me a copy of the Question which he has just put. We have no authentic information at the Foreign Office that a strong Russian force is advancing on Gallipoli. We have received reports that the Russians are advancing in the direction of Gallipoli; but whether those reports are well founded or not our present information does not enable me to state.

MR. DILLWYN

asked whether any answer had been received to the telegram sent by Her Majesty to the Emperor of Russia?

THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER

The communication addressed by the Sultan to Her Majesty was a private and personal communication, and similarly the communication with the Emperor of Russia and his reply. I do not think it would be convenient or right that these matters should be brought before the House; but, as Her Majesty's communication to the Emperor of Russia was made by the advice of Her Ministers, and there seems to be some misapprehension as to its precise character, I have received Her Majesty's permission to lay it before the House.