§ THE EARL OF MALMESBURYAlthough under an Order of your Lord- 318 ships' House I have no right to put to my noble Friend opposite the Secretary for Foreign Affairs, without giving Notice, any Question with regard to the complications now existing between France and Prussia, yet I think your Lordships will allow me to do so at a moment of such very great anxiety as the present. All the public journals of this evening contain an announcement which must fill your Lordships' minds with anxiety and with the deepest regret. It is no less than this—that France has declared war against Prussia. I shall not say another word, except to ask my noble Friend whether he has any official information of the fact, and whether it is true, or is only a rumour?
§ EARL GRANVILLEMy Lords, in answer to the Question put to me by my noble Friend, I have to state that Her Majesty's Government have received no official communication of the statement referred to by him as having been made in the French Chambers this afternoon; but I have no reason to doubt the truth of the commercial telegrams and Reuter's despatch which have been received, and it is with the deepest concern and grief that I give credence to the intelligence that war has been declared by France against Prussia. My Lords, I can only add—and I think your Lordships will not wish me to add more—that all the information which will enable you to form a judgment on the conduct of Her Majesty's Government shall be laid on the Table as soon as we can possibly deal with the no inconsiderable mass of Papers relating to the subject.