§ THE EARL OF ELLENBOROUGHMy Lords, I wish to give notice, that on the Motion for the adjournment of the House on Friday, I shall call the attention of your Lordships to the actual state of affairs between Germany and Denmark. In the absence to-night of the noble Lord the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs and the Lord President of the Council, I wish to ask the noble Duke (the Duke of Somerset), Whether the identical Note that appears in the newspapers of to-day from Austria and Prussia, making an amended proposal relative to an armistice and a 2 Conference, is authentic? The difference between the present proposition and that which was formerly made is, that the latter was a separate proposal made by Prussia and Austria severally, while the Note now published is an identical proposition on the part of both to the effect that the Danes may elect either to have an armistice, providing that there shall be a mutual evacuation of the Island of Alsen by the Danes and of Jutland by the allies, or an armistice on the basis of the uti possidetis. That is, in fact, a proposition to the effect that hostilities shall cease, that the prizes taken on both sides shall be restored, and that the embargo upon ships on both sides shall be taken off. Now, supposing this Note to be authentic, I must express my earnest hope that the Danish Government will accept the proposal of an armistice on the basis of the uti possidetis. With respect to further operations at sea, I think it very probable that at the present moment the Banes have the temporary advantage at sea. But great questions must be decided on great and not on little views. It is not possible that any advantage that Denmark may gain at sea can have any effect on the ultimate result of this war; and, therefore, I trust that she will agree to that condition also, and that 3 we shall have the happiness to see the great Powers of Europe assembled in Conference with this armistice first established: for without the establishment of that armistice there can be no hope of a successful result from the Conference. And I do hope at the same time, that when Austria and Prussia forwarded that identical Note, they at the same time forwarded by telegraph instructions to Marshal Wrangel not to commit the army to any further military operations; for it will be a most criminal act if, while these Powers hold out the hope of a pacific settlement, they do anything to endanger the lives of more men than have already unfortunately fallen in this most unrighteous war.
§ THE DUKE OF SOMERSETIn the absence of my noble Friend the Secretary for Foreign Affairs, I will only say that, without vouching for the exact words of the Note published to-day, the statement made is substantially correct. It would be very inconvenient for me, under present circumstances, to give any further answer to the question.