§ THE EARL OF DERBYIf I knew to which Member of the Government to address myself, I should be glad of an opportunity of putting a question of considerable importance, inasmuch as we have arrived at a period in this eventful struggle when it is essential that Her Majesty's Government should lay before Parliament and the country the fullest information as to the existing state of affairs. We have forborne, for a long period, to put any question to the Government which might, in the slightest degree; have embarrassed them during the late negotiations; but, inasmuch as we have been given to understand that these negotiations at Vienna have altogether terminated—that all hopes of peace are now at an end—and that Her Majesty's Plenipotentiary has returned to this country—we certainly did expect that the Government would have felt it their duty, without question from any noble Lord on this side of the House, to make a statement in both Houses of the actual state of affairs—the nature of the propositions which have been made, and the nature of the replies given to them—the result of the propositions, and why they were refused. I do not see the noble Earl (the Earl of Clarendon) in his place.
§ THE MARQUESS OF LANSDOWNEMy noble Friend has been summoned within the last quarter of an hour to attend Her Majesty.
§ THE EARL OF DERBYI wish to ask whether it is the intention of the Government to make a statement of the present posture of affairs and of the negotiations which have taken place—of the statements which have been made, and the language held both by the Allied Powers and by Austria, as well as the character of the answers given by Russia. I wish to ask whether it is the intention of the Government to lay before both Houses the various 1948 protocols, and whether, in short, we shall have a statement of the views of the Government as to our present national position in the very critical state of foreign affairs, and the threatening aspect of the peace of the world?
§ THE MARQUESS OF LANSDOWNEMy noble Friend, the Secretary for Foreign Affairs, has been in the House until within the last five minutes, when he was sent for to attend Her Majesty, and he is now in attendance upon Her Majesty. Had he been here, he would, my Lords, have been prepared to give an answer to the questions which have been put by the noble Earl opposite; but I may say that it is the intention of the Government, at the earliest possible period, to lay a full account of what has taken place before Parliament. No doubt a full account will be given, though I am not prepared to state the exact day; but perhaps to-morrow my noble Friend will be able to name a day.
§ House adjourned till To-morrow.