VISCOUNT STRATFORD DE RED-CLIFFEsaid, he wished to put a question to the Government with regard to the Danubian Principalities, which, it was well known, presented one of those questions in connection with the interests of the Turkish empire which had been referred to the consideration of the Congress at Paris. It had lately come to his knowledge in a general way that some difficulties accompanied the arrangement of that part of the question which related to the Administration of the two countries under one Prince, and their consequent union as a single Government. He wished to ask Her Majesty's Ministers whether they had any objection to inform him what the state of the negotiations was at the present moment, and it would then remain with him to consider whether it necessarily formed part of his duty to bring this question before the House.
LORD WODEHOUSEsaid, he had no difficulty in informing the noble Lord in what position the question now stood. After the election of Colonel Couza as Hospodar of both Principalities it became necessary to refer to the different Powers who were parties to the Paris Congress to consider what should be done. A Conference was held to take the matter into consideration, and the result at which they arrived was, that it was advisable for the Porte on this single occasion to recognize Colonel Couza as the Hospodar of both Principalities. It was, no doubt, an exception from the principle laid down at the Congress that there should be one Hospodar for Wallachia and another for Moldavia; but it was thought to be better to treat the present as an exceptional case, and to recognize the election. This Conference was held before the late change of Government. The Porte had made some difficulties as to the precise form in which the recognition of Colonel Couza was to be made; but he had no doubt that an arrangement would be effected. The basis of which would be that Colonel Couza should be recognized as Hospodar of the two Principalities in this one single instance.
VISCOUNT STRATFORD DE RED-CLlFFEthanked the noble Lord for the 12 manner in which he had replied to his question. The matter to which it related was one of very serious consequence as affecting the interests of the Turkish empire. He must say, however, he greatly regretted that the important principles laid down as to the union between the two Principalities by the Congress of Paris should have been so incompletely maintained. If the double election of Colonel Couza was to be recognized, it should be regarded as a strictly exceptional case, and a distinct guarantee ought to be given to the Porte that the principle laid down by the Paris Congress should be respected in future.
LORD WODEHOUSErepeated the assurance that the recognition of Colonel Couza as Hospodar of both Principalities was treated only as an exceptional case.
§ House adjourned at half-past Six o'clock, till To-morrow half-past Ten o'clock.