THE MARQUESS of CLANRICARDEMy Lords, I beg to put a question to my noble Friend the Secretary for Foreign Affairs respecting an announcement of the greatest importance which has lately appeared in the Moniteur, the official organ of the French Government. The statement to which I allude is to the effect that the English and French fleets in the Mediterranean have received orders not only to proceed to the mouth of the Dardanelles, but that Admiral de LaSusse and Admiral Dundas have been desired to act conjointly and in concert upon any instructions or orders they may receive from the Ambassadors of their respective countries at Constantinople. I must say that I read that announcement, which I hope cordially to hear confirmed, with the greatest satisfaction. I do not stop now to inquire whether such instruc- 2 tions might not have been given at an earlier period; that may be matter for inquiry hereafter; but sure I am that if the advisers of the Crown in this country act in cordial concert with the Government of the Emperor of the French, and if the forces of the two countries in the Mediterranean are to act in concert, then it will be almost impossible that any war can disturb the peace of Europe; and if any such war should unfortunately arise, then it cannot possibly be of long duration, or of doubtful issue. I therefore read that announcement with very great satisfaction, not because I looked upon it as a hostile demonstration, but because I thought it rather calculated to avert hostile operations, and I beg leave to ask my noble Friend whether it is correct?
§ The EARL of CLARENDONMy Lords, in answer to the question of my noble Friend, I have to inform him that the report to which he alludes, and which was published only a few days ago in the Moniteur, is quite correct. When the announcement was received in this country that the departure of Prince Mensehikoff from Constantinople had been followed in a few days 3 by that of the whole Russian Legation, and when the rupture of official relations between Russia and Turkey was accompanied by menacing circumstances, Her Majesty's Government thought it was their duty to give to Lord Stratford de Redcliffe authority to send for the fleet, and to instruct Admiral Dundas to proceed to the neighbourhood of the Dardanelles, there to await any communication he might receive from Her Majesty's Ambassador at Constantinople. My noble Friend is likewise quite correct in stating that this step has been taken in concert with the French Government, between whom and Her Majesty's Government, as I have mentioned here on more than one occasion, there has hitherto existed, and, I am bound to say, there still continues to exist, the most cordial unanimity on this important question. The Ambassadors and Admirals of the two countries have been furnished with instructions precisely similar in character; and both Governments believe that their representatives at Constantinople will use the same discretion and moderation in exorcising the powers that have now been intrusted to them. But they hope also that the necessity for having recourse to them will not arise. As my noble Friend has truly stated, this course has been adopted only as a measure of precaution; and so far from precluding, will, I verily believe, tend to promote that pacific solution of the existing difficulty, to which I need hardly assure your Lordships that the utmost endeavours of Her Majesty's Government are directed.
§ The EARL of DERBYWill the noble Lord name the day on which the instructions were forwarded to the Admirals?
§ The EARL of CLARENDONI cannot state the date; but it was either the same day or the day after that on which the information reached this country that Prince Menschilcoff had quitted Constantinople.