LORD CAMPBELLI wish to put a Question to my noble Friend the Secretary of State, of which I have given him private Notice. On Wednesday there appeared in the morning journals a Russian Circular, and in that document it is alleged that the Emperor of Russia represents the views and interests of 2 Europe. As regards "interests," the assertion may be passed over—every aggressor and spoliator is in the habit of asserting that he was acting in the interests of the world. But the assertion in the Circular that the Czar represented the "views" of Europe involves the dignity and compromises the policy of every Power that does not distinctly repudiate it. I therefore wish to ask my noble Friend how far the assertion is correct as regards the views of Her Majesty's Government?
§ EARL GRANVILLEIt appears to to me that the Question of the noble Lord is one that opens up considerable matter of debate, and I would therefore ask whether it is one which should be put without public Notice to your Lordships?
§ THE EARL OF DERBYWhen my noble Friend gave me private Notice of the Question he was about to put it struck me that in point of form it was 3 one of a somewhat unusual character; because my noble Friend does not ask what the Government has done, or what it is doing, or what it proposes to do, but asks whether it concurs in certain statements expressed in a document which has been addressed to us, and to all the European Powers by a foreign Government. It is obvious, as the noble Earl (Earl Granville) has observed, that this is a question which it is not easy to answer by a simple "Yes" or "No," and one which might lead to a very considerable debate. I think, therefore, that I shall best deal with the question of my noble Friend by saying this—that we are in no way bound by the expression of opinion issued by the Russian Government, and that, as a matter of fact, we do not accept or admit the arguments and conclusions embodied in that document.