§ THE EARL OF DERBYIn consequence, my Lords, of the very serious character of the intelligence said to have been received within the last few days from the United States of America, and of the critical state of our relations with that country, I shall abstain from offering any comment upon the question which I feel it my duty to put to her Majesty's Government, and I hope that in so doing I shall meet with the approbation of your Lordships. The question which I wish to put to the noble Earl the Secretary for Foreign Affairs is, whether, within the last few days, the Government have received any official information from the American Minister at this Court of the intention of the Government of the United States to suspend all diplomatic intercourse with this country by dismissing Mr. Crampton and withdrawing the exequaturs from the three British consuls? I wish to know, also, whether, if there were any such communication, it was made in writing; and, if so, whether Her Majesty's Government object, without delay, to lay that communication before Parliament? I wish, also, to know, whether, in the event of such a communication having been received, Her Majesty's Government are prepared to state to Parliament the course which they intend to advise Her Majesty to pursue?
§ THE EARL OF CLARENDONMy Lords, in reply to the question of the noble Earl, I have to state, that the day before yesterday Mr. Dallas, the American Minister at this Court, communicated to me a despatch from his Government, in which it was stated that the assurances 1398 given by Her Majesty's Government were satisfactory as regarded the fact of no instructions having been sent, and of no intention having existed on the part of this Government in any way to violate or infringe the law of the United States: but that the answer given to Mr. Dallas with respect to Mr. Crampton and our consuls was not equally satisfactory, and it appeared that they were still to be considered as representatives unacceptable to the Government of the United States, and that the President had therefore determined upon sending Mr. Crampton his passports, and withdrawing the exequaturs from the three consuls. This despatch was read to me by Mr. Dallas, and a copy of it has been furnished to me; but Her Majesty's Government have not yet finally determined upon the course which they will recommend Her Majesty to pursue. As soon as they have arrived at a final determination it will be their duty to lay a copy of the despatch on the table of the House, and to announce to Parliament the decision to which they have come. I think it right also to mention that Mr. Dallas, at the same time, in communicating to me another despatch relating to questions with regard to Central America, informed me that Mr. Marcy had stated that there were certain points upon which it was possible that the arbitration of a third Power might be usefully resorted to; but that, at the same time, his opinion was that the whole question might be settled by direct negotiation between the two Governments.