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LORD STRATHEDEN AND CAMPBELL, who had a Notice on the Paper,
To call attention to the further correspondence on the Greek frontier; and to move for any protocol or treaty which forms the basis of the European concert alluded to in several despatches,
said, with the permission of the House, he would postpone the Motion until Thursday.
THE EARL OF ROSEBERYsaid, seeing that the noble Earl the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs was in his place, he begged to ask him, Whether all the Papers relating to the affairs of Greece had been laid upon the Table, or, if there were more to be presented, when he intended to lay them on the Table?
§ EARL GRANVILLEYour Lordships are aware that a series of Papers have already been presented on this question; but some other important Papers have not been, and cannot be at present, for 308 the simple reason that it will be necessary to communicate with foreign Governments and to obtain their permission before those Papers can be laid on the Table. I am quite ready to proceed with the discussion of the question, and am, therefore, very unwilling to interfere with the noble Lord (Lord Stratheden and Campbell), whom I do not see present, in the Motion which he has on the Paper; but, at the same time, I think there are reasons why the subject should not be discussed until the Papers to which I have referred are in the possession of your Lordships. We are now engaged in ascertaining whether foreign Governments have any objection to the presentation of those Papers. I am glad to say that I now see the noble Lord present. I was not aware that the Motion was fixed for to-night until after the House had adjourned; and it is for the noble Lord to say whether he will bring it forward to-night, or whether he will defer it until all the Papers are presented.
LORD STRATHEDEN AND CAMPBELLsaid, the remarks of the noble Earl opposite (Earl Granville) gave him an opportunity of repeating a statement which he had made before a much smaller number of their Lordships—namely, that he had determined to postpone his Motion until Thursday.
§ EARL GRANVILLEI cannot promise that the Papers will be in the hands of your Lordships by Thursday.
LORD STRATHEDEN AND CAMPBELLsaid, in that case, he was willing not to bring on the Motion until some day next week.