§ LORD ROBERT MONTAGUasked the First Lord of the Admiralty, Whether, in case of satisfaction not being speedily made by the Russians for the insult to the British flag, he will order Admiral Horn by to make reprisals, and to hold them until reparation has been made?
§ MR. W. H. SMITHI must remind the noble Lord and the House that I stated to the House on Friday last that Admiral Horn by had sent his flag captain to see General Todleben on the subject, and that General Todleben expressed his very great regret at the occurrence, of which he was entirely ignorant. General Todleben also stated that he would send at once an officer of the staff to the Gulf of Saros, to make inquiry, and to put him in a position to offer such explanation as might be possible. We have not received any further information. The noble Lord is aware that the distance would make it almost impossible for the officer to have gone and returned by this time. But I may state that the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs directed the Ambassador to make a representation of the circumstances of the case to Prince Lobanoff, the Russian Ambassador, and to request an explanation; and I have no doubt we shall receive a satisfactory explanation.
§ LORD ROBERT MONTAGUAn explanation, then, has been demanded? Of course, the British flag will be saluted?
§ MR. W. H. SMITHAn explanation has certainly been demanded. What the result will be I am not able to say.