The Express.
London, England, 1864-02-13 00:00:00

POLAND.

Mr. HENNESSY rep;aietl7;al;quiry be bad previously
made with reference to a despatch on the subject of Poland,
written in the month of September, 1863, by the Secretary
of State for Foreign Affairs, desiring to have that despatch
in its complete form, without mutilation.
Lord PALMERSTON—The hoc. gentleman wishes to
know whether a certain despatch which had been prepared
and sect to one of our ministers abroad, was altered by
direction of the Secretary of State before being delivered to
the foreign government for whom it was intended. Well,
sir, there have been to my knowledge many bestows —many
canoe—in which, upon a reconsideration, it has been thought
advisable to make some change in a despatch sent to one of
our ministers abroad, and intended for communication to a
foreign government. It will be, the Isom gentleman will
see. exceedingly improper to lay before parliament that
which was not a deliberate act of the British government.
The hos. gentleman might just se well elk for the produc-
tioo of despatches before they had been properly prepared
by the Secretary of State. That which the house is en-
titled to is that communication which wee actually
made to the foreign government concerned, and I
must decline to enter into any explanation as to
what alterations may have been made at any period in de-
spatches withdrawn, but which were intended for other
governments. With regard to the statement made by my
noble friend at Blairgowrie, and the application which the
bon. gentleman says has frequently been made by the Poles,
with all deference to him, it does not seem that that de-
claration tellies exactly with what the Poles desire.
What the Poles oak for and the hoe. gentleman desires is,
that we should stale to the Russian government that we
rounder the stipulations of Vienna are no longer banding
upon them—(Kr. Hvoriesr : No, no)--that we should
say that Poland is not held by Russia by the treaty
of Vienna, but that would release Russia from the oblige-
ties which the treaty of Vienna imposed upon her in regard
to the treatment of the Poles. It is quite true that those
Polish persons with whom I have communicated have always
urged that that would be the most important thing in their
own interest to be done. It is often said that people are
the best judges of their own intermits, but I do not think
the Poles are. I conceive it would be an important com-
munication, but at the isms time it would be fatal
to them, in regard to the rights upon which they
stand, because it would be tantamount to saying to the Rus-
sian government, " You no longer bold Poland by any treaty
which stipulates that you should do certain things in regard
to the Poles, but you hold it by the right of conquest, and
the Poles are at your tender mercy." That would be going
back to the condition precisely in which Poland stood in
1832. We remonstrated with the Russian governraeot at
that time about their treatment of Poland. They said,
Do not talk to us of the treaty of Vienna. We have
conquered Poland, and you have no right to tell us bow we
should treat these subjects of the Emperor." We have
always denied that, and I think it was a great step in
advance of the treatment of Poland, when last year the
Russian government admitted that the great powers of
Europe had a right to make representations to them in re-
gard to the treatment a/ the Poles, basing those stipula-
tions upon the treaty of Vienna. That was a very great
step in favour of the Poles, and therefore I have always
contended that to release the Russian government from all
erimainenta and all stipulations contained is the treaty
of Vienna in favour of the Poles would be, instead of being
an advantage to the Poles, to deliver them over bound
band and foot to the mercy of those from whom they pray
to be delivered.

Mr. W. E. FORSTER said that notwithstanding the an-
swer jut given by the noble lord he could not help wishing
that he had entered into • more full explanation, and had
informed the house upon what grounds this despatch, which
he acknowledged had been sent, bad been recalled. The Poles
did not sak for armed annistance, nor for diplomatic assist-
ance, but simply that this country should withdraw its
sanction from the treaty by which Russia had obtained the
kingdom of Poland. They said **The treaty ham bean broken ;
withdraw your sanction, and put us in a true position before
Europe." He would ask why this despatch was re-
called. The house had a right to ask that information.
If the house had no right to the despatch, they had a right
to ask why this sudden change of policy took
hoped soros further explanation would be afforcreirto the
house. (Hear, hear.)
Mr. G. DUFF thought the hon. gentleman opposite
should take the earliest means of giving the house an op-
portunity of expressing an opinion upon the Polish question.
The Poles had a right to know whether England would or
would not help them. His views of the insurrection
were different to the honourable gentleman's, for he
(Mr. G. Duff) thought that the Poles werenot so strong u
they were lest year, and that every day the insurrection was
continued it only gave the Martian government an oppor•
tunity of crushing a coautry already sufficiently exhausted.
(Hear, bur.)
The hones then went into • committee of supply, and im-
mediately resumed.
BANK ACTS (SCOTLAND).
• •

The report of the committee was brought up and agreed
to, sod lire given to bring in a bill f?‘"ded !ber•up?!.

'Sir J. Lawnece's Saar; BW prod time' comMittime.
VESTRY CPS (IRELAND) 4.80111T1021.R1!.L._.

Sir IL PEEL obtained leave to introduce • bill for th•
abobtioe of Vestry Car in Ireland, and for other purposes
relating thereto.

ELECTION PETITIONS BILL.

Mr. HUNT obtained leave to introduce a bill for the
amendment of the kw in regard to the proceedings oa
election petitions.
TESTS ABOLITION (OXFORD) BILL.
..... • • •

Mr. DODSON, in • ocasmittee of the whole house,
obtained leave to introduce • bill to provide for the aboli-
tion of certain testa in connection with academical degrees
i• the University of Oxford.