The Sun.
London, England, 1864-04-22 00:00:00

THE CONFERENCE:

The Earl of CARNARVON, before their lordships ad-
journed, wished to ask the Foreign Secretary a question of
some importance relative to the conference. Their lordships
were aware that the meeting of the conference had been fixed
for yesterday, and their lordships were aware that the re-
presentatives of 'ho minor German states, and of Austria
and Prussia, failed to attend, and cozsequently one day was
lost; and a day was of much moment at a time like the
present. The conference, be understood, had been post-
pined until next Monday; and their lordships would re-
member that this was not the first postponement. The con-
ference was originally to have been held on the 11th, but it
was postponed until the 20th, and now it was again post-
poned until Monday. It was most distinctly understood
that one of the first steps of the conference would be to order
an armistice, and that a suspension of hostilities would take
place; but he was sorry to say that there were reasons
which, it was very easy to understand, might induce the
Austrian, and especially the Prussian Government, to de-
sire to see delay in the armistice being carried into effect.
This was a matter which ought not to be lost sight of. The
question which he wished to put was whether, in the event
of any further postponement of the conference, any steps
would be taken to secure at once such an armistice as would
cause a suspension of hostilities, and to avoid an indefinite
postponement of the conference accompanied with a con-
tinuation of hostilities in Denmark. He had seen it stated
in the newspapers that there was an intention on the put
of the Prussian Government to forward their troops into
Jutland. He bad also seen it stated—he hoped not on good
authority, but it had appeared in some of the German
papers—that there was an intention, by means of the occu-
pation of Jutland, to make Dnmark pay the expenses of
the war. Under these circumstances he wished to put his
question as to the probability of there being an armistice.

Earl RUSSELL, who was very indistinctly heard, was
understood to say---With regard to the meeting of the con-
ference I have to state that the German Confederation,
having at pointed Baron Von Beust as their representative,
and ho holding the offices of President of the Council,
Homo Minister, and Foreign Minister of Saxony, it would
be necessary for him to make arrangements with respect to
performirg the duties of those offices during his absence ;
he could not, therefore, be in London until Monday next.
The plenipotentiaries attended yesterday and fouud that the
representatives of Austria and Prussia had received strict
instructions not to attend the conference until .the repre-
sentative of the Diet was in attendance. Under these cir-
cumstances I must decline to enter into the question which
the noble earl has put. (Hear, hear.) I must say further
that when the conference meets, which I trust will be on
Monday next, they will take the whole matter into their
serious consideration.

The Earl of MALMESBURY—I am quite sure that it
is beet to treat the matter with all discretion under the cir-
cumstances about to take Pleee—l say about to take place,
because the conference now stands adjourned. I think that
the noble earl is right in the answer he gave in reference to
an armistice, but I must say on
my own part, that I hope
that the noble earl and the Government will be on their
guard against a repetition of these postponements. (Hear,
hear.) It is impossible not to see the obvious consequences
of future postponements ; it it evident to every ono that the
parties to meet in the conference may make use of these
postponements to come before the conference in a different
position to that in which they are at this moment. there-
fore trust the noble earl and her Majesty's Governtn.ent will
employ themselves in noting most accurately
what exeln;:g
may be made for a further postponement ; bemuse in this
instance, looking in the distance, and at what I know my-
self has been the course taken by the gentleman to whom
the noble earl has alluded, I confess I am extremely sus-
picions as to the excuse made on this occasion being sincere
Lord STRATFOR,D DE REDCLIFFE said it was satis-
factory to observe that both sides of the house recognised
the importance of avoiding discussion under present cir-
cumstances. He had no reason to doubt that her Majesty's
Government had already in naiad the observations made by
the noble earl on the other side. At the same time it ap-
peared to him great value attached to what had fallen from
his noble friend. It was satisfactory to those who observed
what was passing that the attention of both sides of the
house was directed to the proper disposition of this confe-
rence. He felt he was justified in those observations by
what was occurring. It seemed to him impossible for an)
one to read the accounts of what had transpired with regard
to Sonderborg, and to the continuance of those hostilities
which were being carried out in a murderous spirit, and
likewise with regard to the apparent intention of extending
those hostilities to the other principal fortress of Denmark
and throughout Jutland, without reeognieing the great im-
portance that attached to the spirit in which th„onfarene,
assembled. He trusted that the progress of the conference
would be accelerated, and that its proceedings would to
brought to a happy end. (Hear, hear.)
Earl RUSSELL said that the noble earl opposite was
quite justified in saying ho had a right to ask a question, as
to when the conference would begin. But with regard to
his
em observationsbr, that
generally,Austria it was just to all parties to re-
mewber, a and Prussia had declared their
eten Au
willingness to enter the conference, and when that proposie
tion was made by him to Denmark, the answer he received
was that there was so much excitement at the time at Copen.
hagen, that that court hoped the answer would not Le pressed
until they had more time to consider the whole subject. He,
therefore, did not press it for a fortnight. At the expira-
tion of that time ho communicated the answer of Denmark
to the courts of Berlin and Vienna, and no objection was
taken on their part.
Their lordships then adjourned.

HOUSE OF COMMONS—Last Evening.
The SPEAKER took the chair at four o'clock.
NEW MEMBER.

Mr, CHILDERS, Junior Lord of the Admiralty, took the
oaths and his seat on his re-election for Pontefract,
PRIVATE BUSINESS.

The following bills were road a third time and passed :
Halifax and Junction Railway, Newcastle-under-Lyme
Canal and North Staffordshire Railway Companies, Pon-
typridd Water, Salisbury and Yeovil Railway, and Sudden
Bridge and Bury Roads.

SUBSIDY TO ROYAL MAIL STEAM COMPANY.
Mr. CAVE asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether
the West India colonies have been called upon by the
Treasury to contribute the sum of £37,551 for the present
year towards the subsidy to the Royal Mail Steam Packet
Company ; and, if so, whether the consent of those colonies
had been previously obtained; and, whether he would lay
upon the table of the house the evy of a letter from him
self to Sir Fre.erick Rogers, together with the copy of a

letter from the Postmaster General enclosed therein on the

subject.
Mr. PEEL said that notice had been given to the proper
parties in the colonies that it was expected they would
contribute half towards the expenses in question.