§ THE EARL OF MALMESBURYMy Lords, I have given private Notice to the noble Earl the Foreign Secretary of my intention to ask him, Whether it would be consistent with his duty to make a statement to your Lordships with respect to the complications which have 2 unfortunately arisen between the three Courts of Spain, France, and Prussia? I feel I need make no apology for putting the Question, for the news which we have received to-day from abroad, as stated in the public prints of the state of public feeling in France, is most alarming. That news goes, indeed, so far as to make it almost probable—certainly possible — that a great European war may follow on these events. We are told that, in consequence of—I suppose I must use the words—secret negotiation between the Prime Minister of Spain and the House of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen, an hereditary Prince of that House has consented to accept the Throne of Spain if offered to him by the Cortes. This negotiation, it appears, has been going on totally unknown to France, and, as I understand, to the other great Powers of Europe; and the consequence is, that not only the manner in which the negotiation has been carried on, but also its substance, has been most offensive to France. I will not, of course, ask my noble Friend to ex 3 press any opinion how serious the effect of these complications may be or how they will end. We must make allowance for the prejudices and traditions of other countries, even though we do not completely understand them. At all events, I may be permitted to say that considering all that has passed with reference to the vacant Throne of Spain, it might have been expected by all the great Powers that negotiations should have been carried on above board and in a fair manner. I will only ask the noble Earl whether he can give us any hope that by his own exertions and those of Her Majesty's Government, and through the exertions of the other great Powers, the great danger which we all regret to look at is likely to pass away? I would also ask where and when Her Majesty's Government were first informed of these negotiations?
§ EARL GRANVILLEOn the last occasion when I remarked on the custom of putting Questions without Notice, I was not aware, or had forgotten, that the Standing Order adopted by your Lordships had gone further than the recommendation of the Select Committee; I believe, however, that I shall meet your Lordships' wishes by giving some answer to a Question put by a noble Earl who has so much right to put one on foreign affairs and on so very important a subject—though, as your Lordships will readily conceive, that answer must necessarily be very short and somewhat meagre. I had the honour of receiving the seals of the Foreign Office last Wednesday. On the previous day I had an unofficial communication with the able and experienced Under Secretary, Mr. Hammond, at the Foreign Office, and he told me, it being then 3 or 4 o'clock, that with the exception of the sad and painful subject about to be discussed this evening, he had never during his long experience known so great a lull in foreign affairs, and that he was not aware of any important question that I should have to deal with. At 6 o'clock that evening, when we were about to begin the discussion on the Report of the Irish Land Bill, I received a telegram informing me of the choice which had been made by the Provisional Government of Spain of Prince Leopold of Hohenzollern, and of his acceptance of the offer. I went to Windsor the following day and had the honour of re- 4 ceiving the seals of the Foreign Office from Her Majesty. On my return I saw the Marquis do Lavalette, who informed me of the fact which I already knew, and in energetic terms remarked on the great indignity thus offered to France, and expressed the determination of the Government of the Emperor not to permit the project to be carried out. M. Lavalette added that he trusted Her Majesty's Government, considering its friendly relations with France and its general desire to maintain peace, would use its influence with the other parties concerned. I told M. de Lavalette that the announcement had taken the Prime Minister and myself entirely by surprise. I stated that I could not admit the force of all the arguments he had used, and that I wished to reserve my opinion as to the general question. I expressed my regret that such strong language had been used at the outset of the affair by the French Government; but I admitted the existence of a strong and excited public opinion in France, and stated that for the reasons which he gave—namely, our friendly relations with France and our anxious desire to contribute to the maintenance of European peace—I would endeavour, without dictation and without any undue interference with the position of other countries, to impress upon them to the utmost the necessity of examining this important subject under all its serious phases. These are the principles on which Her Majesty's Government have since acted. I have been in communication not only with France, Prussia, and Spain, but also with the other great Powers, or their representatives, and I have no reason to believe that any one of those Powers is otherwise than anxious to maintain peace and desirous to contribute its share in preserving it. It is impossible for me to give any opinion to-day as to what effect those efforts may have had; but I do trust in the sense and moderation of the rulers and statesmen of Europe to avert so great a calamity as war. We all know how causes trivial in themselves, how faults and misunderstandings on both sides, have led to some of the greatest calamities which Europe has suffered; but I think there ought to be found some means of arriving at a conclusion which should avert the result to which the noble Earl has alluded.