HC Deb 09 March 1885 vol 295 cc435-7
MR. LABOUCHERE

asked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Whether it is to be understood by the statement in Lord Granville's Despatch of 7th February to Sir Edward Malet that the Despatch of Prince Bismarck to Count Minister of 5th May never had been communicated to him, that a Copy of it was not left with him, or that it neither had been read to him nor its contents verbally stated to him; whether Count Münster did at any time fulfil the instructions which, as stated in The North German Gazette, he had received on 5th May, to give Lord Granville to understand that, if England refused to come to terms with Germany, the latter would seek an understanding with France, and that England declined to meet this German advance; whether at the interviews, which took place be- tween Count Herbert Bismarck and Lord Granville, when the former was sent on a mission to London, "in the hope that he might succeed where the Ambassador had failed," Count Munster was present; and, whether Count Herbert Bismarck left England without being apprised by Lord Granville of the fact that Prince Bismarck's Despatch of 5th May had never been communicated to him?

LORD EDMOND FITZMAURICE

With the permission of the House, I beg leave to read the following letter, which Lord Granville has addressed to me on the subject of my hon. Friend's Question, and which he has authorized me to read to the House:—

"March 9, 1885.

"Dear Fitzmaurice,

"I take the unusual course of writing to you a letter in answer to Mr. Lahouchere'a Questions, as they affect me personally rather than the Foreign Office. I never received, nor had I until lately any knowledge of, Prince Bismarck's despatch of May 5. Count Münster and Count Herbert Bismarck, not long afterwards, each told me that the German Government could not maintain a friendly attitude on Egyptian matters if we continued to be unfriendly on Colonial questions. I denied that we had been unfriendly, and gave positive assurances, on the part of my Colleagues and myself, of friendly action for the future. Both Count Herbert Bismarck and Prince Bismarck expressed at the time their satisfaction with these assurances. The tension which has since arisen resulted from the serious difference of opinion on the part of the two Governments as to whether those assurances have been kept or broken. I need not renew that discussion, more especially as I have reason to hope that this friction will be a thing of the past. Count Munster was not present at the conversations which I had with Count Herbert Bismarck. It is not usual for the Ambassador and his First Secretary to come at the same time. What I have stated above will show that it was impossible for me to complain to Count Herbert Bismarck of the non-communication of a despatch which I did not know to exist—a despatch which appears to have been secret, and to have dealt generally with the political situation for the guidance of Count Münster.

"Yours sincerely,

"GRANVILLE."

MR. GORST

asked, whether the noble Lord was able to say whether, subsequent to the arrival of Count Herbert Bismarck, or up to the present, Lord Granville had received a copy of the despatch of the 5th of May; and, if not, whether Her Majesty's Government would try to induce the German Government to consent to furnish it?

LORD EDMOND FITZMAURICE

I think the hon. and learned Member had better give Notice of that Question.

MR. GORST

I will put it down for to-morrow.