The Press.
London, England, 1853-07-23 00:00:00

V arliammt,
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THE TURKISH QUESTION.
Interpellations on this subject were on Monday
renewed in the House of Lords by the Ea.l of
MsuiEsetav, who referred to the various notes and
manifestoes which had emanated from the Russian
Emperor or Ministers, and to which formal replies
had already been addressed by the French Cabinet.
He disclaimed all intention of embarrassing the
Government, but submitted that the time was come
when the British Legislature and public ought to
know what they were doing, or whether they were

-- i
dong anything
" I think it is now time for the dignity of this country—
" think it is fair on the part of the Opposition—to ask
her Majesty's Government now whether they have made
any reply to those notes, and whether, if not, they intend
to reply and publish their reply in the same manner as
the Russian Government adopted when they circulated
those documents? 1 think, if her Majesty's Government
delay answering those documents, they will run the risk
of being misapprehended or misunderstood, for silence
proverbially means consent. We have been already told
by my noble friend that he does not agree in all the
statements in those documents—(" Hear, hear," from the
Earl of Clarendon )—but it may be the cause of misappre-
hension, and her Majesty's Government may be accused
of being unable to answer those notes, and even of fearing
to answer them, under alarm at the acts of a powerful
nation which is now attracting the altention of the whole
world. 1 will, therefore, earnestly beg her Majesty's
Government to state to the house and the country whether
they have answered those notes—one or both of them—
and whether they intend, if they have answered them,
that the reply should be made public—however unusual
that mode of treating diplomatic documents may be—in
the same way as the Russian and French Governments

have done ?
The Earl of CLARENDON admitted the forbearance
which the Opposition bad sht,wn, and their ready
compliance with his previous requests to postpone
discussion on this topic. These requests, be said,
were urged from no other motive than that of
avoiding all chance of interrupting the course of
negotiations and diminishing the probability of a
pacific solution. The example of France and other
countries, he contended, did not apply to this
country, because of the difference in their ministerial
system. Abroad the Government acted on its own
authority ; here the Foreign Secretary was obliged
to lay papers before Parliament and take the sense
of the house upon the course to be pursued. That
step he intimated would be taken in relation to the
Russo-Turkish question in due time, when the whole
of the papers would be laid before Parliament. The
noble earl proceeded :
" With respect to the two notes to which my noble
friend has alluded, and the observations which he has
thrown out as to the capacity or the courage which we may
possess in answering them, with regard to the first point,
it is not for me to pronounce an opinion as to the duty
which devolves on me, but, as to any fear of answering
them, I trust my noble friend will be perfectly satiotied
that no such apprehension at any time existed, either on
my mind or on that of any other member of her Majesty's
Government. (Cheers.) To the first note no regular
answer was sent, because the greater part of it alluded to
the negotiations which had been originated with the
French embassy at Constantinople, and the negotiations to
which they afterwards led ; and the remainder of that note
had been forestalled by previous communications from
her Majesty's Government to the Cabinet of St. Peters-
burg ; a portion of it, moreover, has been answered in sub-
stance, but not in the form of a regular answer in a sub-
sequent despatch. The second circular note from Count
Nesseirode was one of a different character, and certainly
did require an answer, and it was immediately answered,
and that answer has gone to St. Petersburg, (Hear,
hear.) I have only further to add, that the answer was in
entire conformity with the note uf the French Government,
as indeed, I may say, the whole of our proceedings hare
been. ( ('heers. )"
Lord BEAUMONT inquired the date at which Par-
liament and the country might expect to receive the
promised information. At present they were left in
an extraordinary position, possessing the fullest
knowledge of all the intentions, actions, and opinions
of Russia, to which the utmost publicity was given,
while the policy, the proceedings, and even the opinions
of the home Government were shrouded in mystery.
The Earl of CLARENDON :
I can assure my noble friend that it is no small sacrifice
to her Majesty's Government to have asked for the postpone-
ment of the discussion. or to have delayed placing before the
house the fullest information on the subject. We feel that
Parliament and the public have a perfect right to be informed
in the manner in which my noble friend points out, and it
has been our desire that there should be no unnecessary
delay: but I need not go over again the reasons which
have induced us to ask for this delay. In answer to
noble friend, however. I will say that I think a very few
days will be sufficient to show whether the negotiations
that are on foot will succeed or not.: and whether they do
succeed or not. as soon as those few days are over, I can
promise your lordships that the whole of the papers shall
he laid on the table of your lordships' house. (Hear.hear.)"
The Marquis of CLANRICAEDE added scme queries
touching the extent to which Russia had assumed