Lords Sitting of 16 April 1885

MINUTES.
PUBLIC BILLS—First Reading—Federal Council of Australasia (69); Drainage and Improvement of Lands (Ireland) Provisional Orders* (70); Local Government Provisional Orders (Poor Law) (No. 2)* (71); Local Government Provisional Orders (Poor Law) (No. 3)* (72).
Report—Tramways (Ireland) Provisional Order (No. 1)* (34); Elections (Hours of Poll)* (43); Educational Endowments (Ireland)* (44).
Third Reading—Local Government (Ireland) Provisional Orders (Labourers Act) (No. 1)* (35); Municipal Voters (Relief)* (39); Army (Annual)* (62), and passed.

DEFENCES OF THE EMPIRE—DEFENCE OF THE COALING STATIONS.

  QUESTION.
  VISCOUNT SIDMOUTHasked, If the noble Earl the Secretary of State for the Colonies could lay on the Table of House the Correspondence with the Colonies in respect to the defence of coaling stations?
  THE EARL OF DERBY, in reply, suggested that the noble Viscount should take the opportunity, which the Government would be happy to afford him, of looking through the Papers before they were produced. He was inclined to think that there some were of them which, in

  1839
  the circumstances of the present moment, it would not be in the interest of the Public Service to make public.

CENTRAL ASIA—RUSSIA AND AFGHANISTAN—ADVANCE OF THE RUSSIANS—THE NEGOTIATIONS.

  QUESTION.
  THE MARQUESS OF SALISBUEY: As I do not see the noble Earl the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs in his place, I wish to ask the noble Earl the Colonial Secretary whether he is able to give any information as to the progress of the communications with the Court of St. Petersburg, in respect of which there are many rumours abroad? Any information which the noble Earl can give will be very gratefully received by the House.
  THE EARL OF DERBY: My noble Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs will be in his place at the usual time; but, meanwhile, I am not in a position to give the information for which the noble Marquess asks. The progress of the negotiations, so far as I am aware, is only known to those responsible for the Department.
  LORD ELLENBOROUGH: It is the usual time now.
  Afterwards,
  THE MARQUESS OF SALISBURYsaid: May I ask the noble Earl the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, who is now present, whether he is able to give us any information with respect to the condition of communications between this Court and that of St. Petersburg, as there are many rumours about, and great anxiety is felt, on the subject?
  EARL GRANVILLE: We have not yet received the official reply from the Russian Government, nor have we received from Sir Peter Lumsden his reply to the queries we have addressed to him on the statement of fact and the statement made by the Russian General. Sir Edward Thornton, our Ambassador at St. Petersburg, informs me that it is not likely that the Russian Government will receive for a few days any answer to the questions which have been put to their General. Naturally, in these critical times, I have had frequent communications with the Russian Ambassador; but no official communications have passed between us except as to matters of fact.
  EARL STANHOPE: Would the noble Earl inform the House when the reply of Sir Peter Lumsden is likely to arrive?
  EARL GRANVILLE: I am afraid I cannot fix a date. We have telegraphed, and I am sure he will reply as early as he can.
  LORD ELLENBOROUGH: May I ask whether the Government have ascertained the fact that it only requires one day from Penjdeh to Mery, and from thence there is a telegraph direct to St. Petersburg? It is stated in the best mediums of information that such is the case. Can the Government say whether it is so or not?
  EARL GRANVILLE: I think it takes six or seven days. The last telegram, I am informed, was dated on the 6th or 7th.
  THE EARL OF JERSEY: I presume it is incorrect that Her Majesty's Government, as stated in the newspapers, have agreed to give up Penjdeh to Russia?
  EARL GRANVILLE: I must really decline to make a statement as to the unauthorized and nearly always inaccurate accounts of the proceedings of the Government upon those difficult questions.

FEDERAL COUNCIL OF AUSTRALASIA BILL.

  BILL PRESENTED. FIRST READING.
  THE EARL OF DERBY, in presenting a Bill to constitute a Federal Council of Australasia, said, he believed it would be more convenient to their Lordships if he were to make a statement with respect to it on the Motion for the second reading. He supposed there would be no objection to the Bill being read a first time, and he would be prepared to move the second reading on Tuesday next.
  THE MARQUESS OF SALISBURYsaid, that was rather short Notice. Would the noble Earl say Thursday or Friday?
  THE EARL OF DERBY: Yes, certainly.
  Bill to constitute a Federal Council of Australasia—Presented (The Earl of DERBY); read 1a. (No. 69.)
  House adjourned at a quarter before Five o'clock, till To-morrow, a quarter past Ten o'clock.