The Express.
London, England, 1847-12-11 00:00:00

DIPLOMATIC INTERCOURSE WITH ROME.

Eie ft. INOLIS said, seeing the noble lord the Secretary
for Foreign Affair. in his place, he rose to put to him a ques-
tion which had reference to one of his colleagues. A report
prevailed that a noble lord holding the office of Lord Privy
Seal had been fur some time put in Rome, and that a con-
vention had been signed between that noble lord, on the
part of her Majesty's government, and some authorities of
the see of Rome, in reference to diplomatic relations.
He wished to know whether or not there was any truth in
these statements ?
Lord PALMERSTON aid—l am heppy to have an op-
portunity of answering the hon. baronet's question. It is
well known that for some weeks past, Lord Minto, who holds
' the office of Lord Privy Seal, has been in Rome.
Lord Mints is not in Rome, however, in any offi-
cial capacity. He has no powers, and no instruc-
tions to negotiate any convention whatever with the
Court of Rome, to which court he is not in any way accre-
dited ; and, therefore, my hon. friend will at once see that
the statement to which he alludes is entirely destitute of j
foundation. I need not say, that so long u doubts can be
entertained by any person es to the legality. of diplomatic
intercourse with the Court of Rome, her Majesty's govern-
ment have too much respect for the law to do anything
which can by possihility be considered as an infringement of
the law. I believe it is knows by all those who have looked
into the subject, that the doubt exists chiefly upon the con-
struction of the word " communion." The law being that
the crown shall not be allowed to hold any communion with
the Court of Rome. a doubt exists whether the word "com-
munion" should be interpreted es strictly applicable to
religious communion, or whether it should be considered
as applicable also to diplomatic intercourse. lam not called
upon to decide the question ; but until parliament has set-
tled the doubt I can assure my hon. friend no step will be
taken by which her Majesty's government can pou.bly in-
fringe the existing law.
ARREARS OF GREEK LOAN.

Mr. B. COCHRANE wished to know whether the Greek
government had paid up the arrears of the loan, and, if not,
whether it was intended to insist on payment ?
Lord PALMERSTON said the half-yesz's instalment,
payable upon the interest and linking fund in April last,
which wee advanced by her Majesty, had been repaid
Greece. Since that period another instalment had
due in September, and no provision for it having been made
by the Greek government, an advance was necessarily made
on account of it by this country. A demand bad been made
for the repayment of that advance, but as yet no repayment
had taken place.
Mr. B. COCHRANE mid bin question referred to the
whole amount of arrears due to the English government.
Lord PALMERSTON said the whole amount of arrears''
was, as the hon. gentleman was aware, a very considerable
sum, something like 190,0001. No demand had been made
for that, because, although the English government thoaght
the Greek government able to pay the instalments as they
became due, it could not be pretended that they were capa-
ble of paying so large a sum as he had mentioned. With
regard to this larger amount, an intimation had been made
by her Majesty'. government that they expected that some
arrangement would be made for the gradual liquidation of
the debt.
CRIME AND OUTRAGE (IRELAND) BILL.
Sir G. GREY expressed • hope that the house would
consent to sit on the following (this) day at twelve o'clock,
for the purpose of receiving the report on the above bill, so
that the third reading might be fixed for Monday.