§ THE EARL OF MALMESBURYsaid, taking it for granted that the armistice, which had been agreed upon between Russia and this country, would bonâ fide expire on the 31st of the month, and that whatever course events might take his noble Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs would be in his place after the recess, he would, therefore, give notice that if at that time no inconvenience would result to the public service from his doing so, he would call their Lordships' attention to the blue book laid upon the table, containing the correspondence relative to the siege and taking of Kars by the Russians.
§ THE EARL OF ELLENBOROUGHsaid, he desired to know whether there was any objection on the part of the Government to produce some further explanations relative to this question, over and above what was contained in the blue book? For instance, he observed that at page 198 mention was made in a communication of General Williams of a letter written by Lord Panmure, expressing his decided objection to General Williams taking an active part in the purchase of provisions. Now, that letter was not forthcoming. Again, in a subsequent part of the correspondence, General Williams said that he had guaranteed the prompt payment of supplies. He thought they ought to have before them the letter in which General Williams was authorised to guarantee such prompt payment, as well as any letter, if any such existed, stating what sum had been placed at the disposal of General Williams for that purpose. Towards the end of the correspondence allusion was made to a conference that had taken place, in which the Seraskier expressed himself very strongly on the subject of the delay that had taken place in handing over the proceeds of the Turkish loan to the Turkish Government. The 2096 Act authorising the loan was passed upon the 14th of August, and on the 25th of November the Seraskier complained that he was unable to pay for supplies actually purchased; that the army of Eupatoria was destitute of supplies, and all in consequence of his not having received the proceeds of the loan. Now, he thought the House ought to have a return of the periods when the proceeds of the Turkish loan, or any advances on the credit of the loan, were placed at the disposal of the Turkish Government. He observed, also, that there was a letter from General Williams alluding incidentally to an expedition under Schamyl, which took place in consequence of his intervention, in which Schamyl had made captive certain Russian ladies, and which expedition must have very materially affected the movements of the Russian army at the time. However, of that expedition no mention whatever was made in the blue book, except incidentally in the letter of General Williams; and he thought, therefore, the whole of the correspondence ought to be produced. He thought, also, that it was very desirable that they should have before them a return of the force, together with the distribution of that force, of the British, Turkish, and Sardinian armies in the Crimea, during the first week of July and the first week of September.
§ EARL GRANVILLEsaid, that he would make inquiries respecting those matters.
THE MARQUESS OF CLANRICARDEsaid, that he hoped the noble Earl (the Earl of Malmesbury) would give them a more definite notice on this subject. He had said that he should call attention to the blue book; but the blue book contained matter of a very various nature. Ho wished to know exactly what the noble Earl meant to call their attention to.
§ THE EARL OF MALMESBURYsaid, that he was not prepared to say what the exact terms of his Motion would be; but his object was to call the attention of the House to the papers now lying upon the table, and to express his humble opinion as to the cause of the disaster to which they referred.