HL Deb 31 January 1840 vol 51 cc934-5
The Marquess of Londonderry

wished to ask the noble Viscount (Melbourne) a question of considerable importance relative to a discussion which had taken place a few evenings since. He wished to know if her Majesty's Ministers had any information respecting the military occupation of Minorca by France, or of the establishment there of naval and military hospitals?

Viscount Melbourne

was understood to say, that he could give no information on the subject, more than that he understood they were possessed of some small island off Minorca, which was principally used as a depot for coals.

The Earl of Ripon

wished to know how long they had had possession of that island?

The Earl of Clarendon

said, it had been occupied four or five years. It had been originally made over to the United States by Spain, and thence passed into the hands of France, but the Spanish authorities were satisfied with the sureties which had been given.

The Earl of Ripon

wished to know whether there would be any objection to producing copies of those?

The Earl of Clarendon

said that some of the papers were confidential, but as they had passed through his hands, he could assure his noble Friend that they were perfectly satisfactory. So far as he (the Earl of Clarendon) was concerned, he should be very glad that they should be produced.

Lord Lyndhurst

.—That will be the better course, and then we can judge for ourselves whether they were satisfactory or not.

The Marquess of Londonderry

hoped there would be no objection to lay the papers before the House, because the occupation by the French of Minorca had produced a very strong impression upon the people there. He felt very great difficulty in getting from her Majesty's Government any information relative to the foreign affairs of the country. Some time since he had requested that the convention of Bergara should be laid upon the table, and he understood the noble Viscount to have consented to its production. It had not yet been produced, and he therefore gave notice, that he would move an address to her Majesty that there be laid before the House copies or extracts of any communications which may have passed between her Majesty's Government and the Court of Spain between the 28th of July last and the present time, relating to the convention of Bergara, together with a copy of the said convention.