THE EARL OF CARNARVON, who had given Notice "To call Attention to the present State of the Danish Question," said: My Lords, when I gave notice of my intention to bring this subject under the consideration of your Lordships I did so under the belief that the Conference, which was then sitting, was practically at an end. I have heard since then that it has been stated in another place that that Conference is still sitting—that an armistice has been agreed to and accepted by all parties. I will at once state that it is my intention, if that Report be true, to withdraw my notice; but I shall be glad to hear from the noble Earl the Foreign Secretary whether that is so—and perhaps he will also be good enough to inform your Lordships under what circumstances the armistice has been agreed to, and what the terms and conditions of the armistice are?
§ EARL RUSSELLMy Lords, I have to state to your Lordships with great satisfaction that at the Conference to-day a suspension of hostilities has been agreed to, between Austria and Prussia on one side and Denmark on the other. The terms on which the suspension of hostilities has been agreed to are on the basis of the uti possidetis—each Power retaining its own position both by sea and land. The blockade is to be raised, and the suspension of arms is to be for one month. The Conference will meet again on Thursday.
§ EARL RUSSELLThe question was between a suspension of arms and an armistice. The Allied Powers agreed to a proposition made in Conference by which Jutland would have been evacuated by the Germans, and Alsen by the Danes; but the Danish Government have preferred a simple suspension of hostilities for one month.
THE EARL OF CARNARVONUnder the circumstances I shall postpone my Notice. I cannot say, however, that the statement which has fallen from the noble Earl is satisfactory to me. I am not sanguine enough to expect any great results from the Conference now sitting. I should not, I hope, in the observations which it was my intention to make, have said anything whatever to embarrass Her Majesty's 177 Government; but, under the circumstances, inasmuch as a result hag been obtained— though a very moderate one—I doubt, indeed, whether any subsequent result will be obtained of any moment—I will not say anything that, however indirectly, may tend to embarrass Her Majesty's Government. At the same time I cannot say that I have heard with any great satisfaction the terms on which this armistice has been agreed to. It seems to me an armistice the most one-sided I ever heard of—an armistice all the advantage of which is for the Ger mans. But I am sure of this, that Denmark, by her moderation in accepting these terms, has entitled herself as much to the sympathy of Europe as she has done by the extraordinary gallantry she has shown.
§ EARL RUSSELLAs I have already said, it was proposed in Conference that there should be an armistice on the terms that Jutland and Alsen should be evacuated, and that there should be an entire suspension of the blockade. Denmark, of her own accord, preferred a simple suspension of hostilities. I cannot say I think her wrong in that preference. The noble Earl says he has very moderate expectations as to the result of the Conference, I cannot quarrel with him on that account; but I am not surprised that the Conference, which met on the 25th of April, has not in fourteen days come to a conclusion upon questions which have created so much difference of opinion for the last fourteen years.
§ THE EARL OF ELLENBOROUGHThe noble Earl will perhaps be good enough to tell us on what day the suspension of arms is to commence with regard to Jutland?
§ EARL RUSSELLIt commences on the 12th of the present month.