Lord Hollandseeing his noble friend (lord Liverpool) in his place, was desirous of ascertaining from him the exact import of the suspension or cessation 587 of hostilities, which he had announced the other day. When his noble friend said that a convention for the suspension of hostilities had been signed between France and the Allies, did he mean to state, that Norway was included among those powers between whom hostilities had ceased.
The Earl of Liverpoolhad no hesitation in stating, in reply to the question put by his noble friend, that Norway was not included in the suspension of hostilities.
The Earl of Liverpoolhad no objection whatever to state the fact, that orders had been given at the proper place (the Admiralty), to take measures for the blockade of the ports of Norway.
§ Earl Greysupposed it was then to be understood from this statement, that the ports of Norway were to be blockaded by Great Britain, in order to compel Norway by famine to submit to unite itself with a foreign power against its inclination! He heard this avowed with equal astonishment and grief. What was to be done upon this, he did not know. The matter was in the hands of his noble friend. But some motion ought to be made, that the subject might be thoroughly sifted.
The Earl of Liverpoolconceived himself to be limited at present merely to the giving an answer to the question. When the motion should be made, he would then have an opportunity of stating the whole of the circumstances.
§ Earl Greyobserved, that as the motion to be made must be for the purpose of laying the foundation for some further proceeding, it was desirable that their lordships should have before them some official document. The statement of the fact by the noble lord was of course perfectly sufficient for them, as individuals; but to lay the foundation for a parliamentary proceeding, there must be some regular document, or evidence, to bring the matter officially before the House. Had the noble lord any objection now to consent to a motion for the production of the instruction to the Admiralty to give orders for this blockade? He would have an opportunity for giving a full statement of the circumstances on the motion for the further proceeding.
The Earl of Liverpoolsaid, he certainly should object to the production of 588 the paper. It could only serve as the foundation of some further proceeding; and therefore its production might produce inconvenience, but could do no good. The House was in possession of the fact. The statement of the circumstances had therefore much better be made on the motion for the production of the paper.
§ Lord Grenvillesaid, it appeared to him, that it would be the better course of proceeding to have the paper first produced. The House knew the fact certainly from the noble earl's statement; but it would be better to have it brought before the House in a regular way, which it must be before any further proceeding could be had.
The Earl of Liverpoolstill continued of opinion, that it was preferable not to agree to the production of the paper in the first instance. Their lordships must be convinced that this did not arise from any wish to shrink from the avowal of the fact. He should give a full statement and explanation of the circumstances which justified Great Britain and the Allies in this proceeding, on the motion for the production of the paper.
§ Earl Greysaid, be should move for the paper on Monday.—It was then ordered that the House be summoned for that day.
Lord Stanhopesaid, he was glad that the House was summoned for Monday; as a subject of the last importance, as connected with civil liberty, was to be discussed on that day.