HC Deb 19 February 1883 vol 276 c311
BARON HENRY DE WORMS

asked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Whether it is true that the English Government have supported Russia in demanding the exclusive right over the Kilia mouth of the Danube, in violation of the stipulations of the Treaty of Paris of 1856, and of the Vienna Protocol of the same year?

LORD EDMOND FITZMAURICE

I must refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave on Friday last to the hon. Member for Dungarvan (Mr. O'Donnell), to the effect that, as the Plenipotentiaries have bound themselves to preserve secrecy as to the proceedings of the Conference, I am precluded from giving any information on the subject. I may, however, inform the House that the report to which the hon. Member refers has reached Her Majesty's Government from no other source.

MR. O'DONNELL

Is the noble Lord aware that the Roumanian Government have published their instructions to their Representatives, from which a very definite conclusion may be drawn as to the action of Her Majesty's Government?

LORD EDMOND FITZMAURICE

The hon. Member is always so well informed on questions of foreign politics that it is not for me to contradict what he says.