§ VISCOUNT STRATFORD DE REDCLIFFEsaid, the subject of the Question which he was about to put to the noble Earl the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs had been brought to his notice by the public Press, particularly The Times, in which a paragraph appeared stating in the most positive terms that the Porte had given permission to a Russian squadron to pass through the Dardanelles and Bosphorus on its way to Odessa. That was a very alarming statement, and he wished, in the first place, to know whether it was true, and then, if true, how far it was in accordance with the existing treaties between the Porte and other Powers? Whether there was any truth in the statement he could not pretend to say; but, as far as he had observed, it had not been contradicted, and the great credit attaching to the leading journal made him believe that there was some foundation for it. He wished, therefore, to ask whether it was true, as stated in the public journals, that the Turkish Government had given permission for a Russian squadron to pass up the Dardanelles and Bosphorus to Odessa; and, in that case, whether such permission accorded with the terms of the Porte's existing engagements with other foreign Powers?
§ EARL GRANVILLEIn answer to the noble Viscount, I have to state that I have no information whatever to the effect implied in the Question, and I think it exceedingly improbable either that the Russian Government should have made the application or the Turkish Government have granted it. I say this the more positively because an application was made the other day by the captain of an American frigate to pass through the Dardanelles, and it was immediately refused by the Turkish Government.